A San Francisco private school with a popular Mandarin immersion program informed staff and families it will close at the end of the school year, blindsiding parents who were unaware of any talk of shutting the site.
Angry parents immediately launched a petition drive Thursday to stop the closure of the Stratford Schools’ 14th Avenue campus in the Richmond District and work with city officials to “address lease negotiations and permitting challenges.”
“This news — delivered without warning or prior community engagement — has shocked and dismayed families and staff alike,” said Hilary Ong, in the petition she started. “Many of us have made life-changing decisions based on our commitment to this school: purchasing homes in the Richmond District, enduring long commutes, and investing years of loyalty and tuition in the Stratford educational model.”…