There has been a lot of media coverage concerning the GLBT Historic Task Force’s community campaign to rename Florence Elementary School to the Sen. Christine Kehoe School.
Let me set the record and facts straight following some questions and concerns that have been brought up. As many of you know, some years ago I brought up the idea of Harvey Milk Street and a Kehoe school in this my LGBT Weekly column. A GLBT Task Force was established and, to be blunt and honest, we sought the advice and knowledge of a very high ranking school official. We felt he would most certainly know how to go about this and give us good advice.
We were informed that the faculty and parents of the Florence School were aware and informed about our project and goal. This school official also stated that he had met with the Florence School community and that they would be informed about our first meeting.
Sadly, this did not happen and we were not aware of or given the real information. Another school official has taken full responsibility for this huge failure of communication and action that resulted in understandably hard feelings. Since then representatives of the Task Force have met and will continue to meet with the Florence Elementary School community. We have most sincerely apologized to the parents and faculty for them not being informed. We plan to take this slow and with small steps and get everyone involved.
About Florence Elementary School: Over 80 percent of the young students’ families live below the poverty line and about 70 percent are students of color. Most do not live in the local neighborhoods. Many receive breakfast, lunch and dinner at the school with a very successful afterschool program.
It’s the hope of the GLBT Historic Task Force to get the local community and neighborhood including businesses and organizations more involved and supportive of this school and its students. We believe this connection and involvement is very important. The school was named after the daughter of the contractor/builder and the city in Italy.
Let me also make it very clear that Christine Kehoe never sought nor asked for this honor. She has not been involved with our Task Force.
This idea, like the Milk Street, came from me and I have never ever discussed it with Christine Kehoe … period.
The members of the GLBT Historic Task Force have worked very hard on both the Milk Street and Kehoe School and I am very grateful for their dedication to these two projects.
While this is not a “done deal” I do not believe, by our recent meetings with Florence School, that we will be successful only if the school faculty and parents are given a voice and are involved in every step of the way; we of the Task Force are 100 percent committed to make this happen. I most sincerely thank the so many of you who have given this project your support.
Portland and Dallas
Well, I am in Portland now and will leave for Dallas this Friday. I have enjoyed my last week in town and future trips in the upcoming weeks include Chicago, Boston, Colorado Springs and Washington, D.C.
Is this another misstatement, which is typical. Or did you actually intent to say that “we do not believe that we need the voice and involvement of the faculty and parents in order to succeed.”
Stop taking credit for other people’s ideas.
Newsflash- life goes on without you.
Hit the road Jack, and don’t you come back….
This is just another example of Mr. Ramirez bullying others to accept his grandiose plans to satisfy his need to be kept in the public eye and to take credit for action like this School renaming that in fact has zero support in the community it would affect most. I’m sure most parents and teachers had no idea who this worn out old drag queen was showing up telling them they are going to rename the school whether they like it or not.
One insignificant two block stretch of a street that most visitors and residents might totally overlook is named in honor of a great Gay leader, Harvey Milk, and we are all supposed to bow and scrape to Mr. Ramirez, yet there is now talk of naming an entire segment of a freeway for San Diego Padres legend Tony Gywnn. Something is wrong with the priorities and efforts in this picture.
Petty moves by petty minded people.