Press Release Details
Board of Education approves renaming of three SFUSD facilities Link to this section
San Francisco (December 12, 2018) - The San Francisco Board of Education unanimously approved the renaming of several San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) facilities in honor of those who have positively impacted San Francisco public schools.
Sydney Goldstein Theater
The Board voted unanimously in favor of renaming the auditorium at 275 Hayes Street the Sydney Goldstein Theater.
In 1980 Ms. Goldstein founded the interview series City Arts & Lectures, on which she not only hosted a variety of leading thinkers but enriched tens of thousands of San Francisco students. Each year Ms. Goldstein and her organization reserved thousands of free lecture tickets for teachers and students, as well as nonprofit organizations.
City Arts & Lectures held its programs at the Herbst Theater until 2012. When the Herbst Theater closed for retrofitting, Ms. Goldstein identified SFUSD’s Nourse Theater as the site for City Arts & Lectures. Upon receiving approval from SFUSD, Ms. Goldstein obtained funding for and oversaw the $2 million renovation, reviving the 1,600-seat theater that had been shuttered for four decades.
Ms. Goldstein, dubbed the “Maestro of Public Conversation” by the New York Times, passed away in September 2018.
“Sydney Goldstein has clearly left a sizable legacy, not only to the school district but to the literary field,” said Commissioner Emily Murase, co-sponsor of the resolution. “I’m also very pleased to add to a growing number of public spaces named in honor of women leaders in our community.”
Louise Cooks Jones Multimedia Library
On Tuesday, the Board of Education also approved renaming the library at Dr. George Washington Carver Academic Elementary School the Louise Cooks Jones Multimedia Library, in honor of the school’s former principal for 18 years.
In addition to supporting students and staff over her storied career, Ms. Jones helped develop the multimedia library at Carver and received a grant that enabled third graders to walk to nearby schools and read to their pre-school buddies.
“I worked for Ms. Jones for five years at Carver while a teacher there. You’ve heard me say, ‘All students can learn. All students want to learn. And we as the adults in the building have a responsibility to make sure they do learn.’ Ms. Jones believed that and taught me that,” said Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews. “Ms. Jones spent a lot of time in the library and was dedicated to all children learning to read at high levels, especially low-income children.”
Ms. Cooks Jones’ career in SFUSD spanned 43 years and, in addition to serving as principal of Carver, she also served as a teacher and assistant superintendent.
Lisa Clay Parent Conference Room
The Board also voted to rename a conference room at Lowell High School, the Lisa Clay Parent Conference Room, after longtime Lowell Alumni Association President Lisa Clay. Ms. Clay served as president of the association from 1991 to 2016, and is credited with leading the association to raise millions of dollars in support of students, staff, alumni and the community. The resolution in support of the name change was sponsored by Lowell alumna Commissioner Emily M. Murase.
###
Page updated on 12/12/18