Excerpt Written by PPS-SF:
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is holding a town hall meeting to discuss proposed school closures and mergers, which have sparked community concerns. Many parents and teachers are frustrated, particularly as the list disproportionately impacts east side schools, including those with Cantonese biliteracy programs.
Supporters of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy rallied against their school's inclusion in the closure list, demonstrating community resistance. Criticism has been directed at the virtual-only format of the town hall, requiring advance questions via a Google form, as expressed by PPS-SF Executive Director Vanessa Marrero. She highlighted its lack of responsiveness to non-English speaking families and accessibility issues.
The meeting will also address the district's budget deficit crisis, underscoring the urgency of these proposed closures. Community members are seeking better communication and engagement from SFUSD.
Megan Rose Dickey Sep 9, 2024
Excerpt Written by PPS-SF:
San Francisco's public school district is advancing its plans for school closures, raising concerns about the implications for public education in the city. These closures are expected to disproportionately affect communities of color, potentially limiting students’ access to vital services like libraries and after-school programs, as noted by Vanessa Marrero, Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco.
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) aims to close, merge, or relocate schools starting in the 2025-26 school year as part of its Resource Alignment Initiative. This multi-year strategy focuses on addressing challenges related to declining student enrollment, revenue, staffing, and deteriorating facilities. The district plans to evaluate each school based on equity, excellence, and resource effectiveness. Would you like more information on this topic?
Ida Mojadad April 7, 2025
Excerpt Written by PPS-SF
Description teSan Francisco families have long hoped for an improved school assignment system that would give kindergartners a better chance at attending their neighborhood public schools. However, the rollout of a new assignment system approved by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) in 2020 has encountered further delays. Initially set for the 2026-27 school year, there is now no specific target date for implementation due to ongoing issues, including the pandemic and failed school closure plans.
Superintendent Maria Su noted, "Right now, we are not working on that," indicating that more time is needed to solidify the assignment zones that will dictate school placements for families. The new system aims to enhance predictability, offer options closer to home, and tackle racial segregation by dividing the city into six or seven zones.
In the meantime, families continue to utilize a lottery system that many find unhelpful. The district is also facing a significant budget crisis, needing to cut $113 million, nearly 10% of its budget, and resolve issues with a malfunctioning payroll and HR system that has troubled teachers and staff.
Despite the shift away from immediate school closures, the potential for future closures looms, especially as board members emphasize the need to address the district's surplus of school buildings relative to student enrollment. SFUSD has engaged researchers from Stanford University to assist in creating new assignment zones, but adjustments may be necessary based on future school closure decisions.
Vanessa Marrero, executive director of Parents for Public Schools San Francisco, speculated that the district might be waiting for more clarity on school closures before finalizing the assignment zones.
Identify Addressing Priority and Education Needs
Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco leaders have taken a notable position on the Regional Advisory Committee for the West (covering California, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada) to the US Department of Education. This committee plays a crucial role in gathering insights about the needs for technical assistance activities and determining the most effective ways to address these requirements. You can access the comprehensive report here to gain deeper insight into their contributions and findings.
We understand SFUSD faces fiscal challenges, but budget shortfalls cannot come at the expense of teachers’ ability to teach or students’ access to quality education. The district and city must be transparent, protect instructional positions and student services, and use reserves only for true emergencies—not to justify permanent program cuts. READ our full statement.
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