How do you feel about the new school year?
• • • • • • • • August 28, 2024 • • • • • • • •
Maybe it's the Kamala factor but I feel optimistic.
After too many years of ignoring a self-created financial crisis, a new SFUSD school board and new superintendent are biting the bullet.
The district calls its effort resource realignment and I think it is a good idea.
Here is what the school district is doing:
- Creating a new staffing model
- Reorganizing central office
- Generating revenue from properties
- Investing in district-wide programs
- Creating a new portfolio of schools
Fixing a $400 million deficit takes more than a few Band-Aids.
Create a New Portfolio of Schools
Which schools will be merged? Which schools will be closed? And why, why is San Francisco closing schools? This is keeping parents, community, and educators up at night.
The chart below gives you the reasons for closing and merging schools: decreased enrollment, under-enrollment, and too many schools.
School Closure Characteristics |
|
|---|---|
Decreased Enrollment |
Over the past three decades, SFUSD enrollment has decreased from its high in 1967 of 93,000 students. Enrollment in 2024 is about 48,000. SFUSD has maintained 106 schools since 2017. Enrollment has declined by 4,293 students |
Under Enrollment |
The district has schools with the capacity to serve 14,000 more students than it has. |
Too Many Schools |
SFUSD has more schools than peer districts- some with more, fewer or similar enrollment numbers. |
One important fact to noodle is that under enrollment of schools is not just a few schools in one part of town. Schools of all sizes in all neighborhoods are under enrolled. By a lot. The chart below from SFUSD shows schools of all sizes under enrolled. The red indicates open seats.
In addition, many school sites are in poor physical condition and SFUSD is struggling to staff classrooms. To its credit, SFUSD has purposefully reached out to school communities to find out what they value. This outreach is more robust than efforts by other school districts.
The goal is to create an outcome that considers historical inequities and mitigates any disproportionate negative impact on any community or group.
A release of the schools to be merged or closed is expected in about a month. Final decisions in December.
Create a new school staffing model
The district is changing how schools are staffed to better meet the enrollment needs at each school site. In prior years, staffing did not always reflect school size and level. Some very small schools had more support staff than large schools.
It is looking at special education and language pathways, improving high schools, key shifts for middle school portfolios, and universal transitional kindergarten.”
The staffing model below illustrates the change. Schools must have basic foundational staff and programs and services that meet the needs of students.
The district is cutting costs to minimize the impact of future school site budget cuts and the need for school co-locations, mergers, or closures. It has eliminated 177 positions (including vacancies) from the Central Office for $21.7 million in savings. Fifty-two of these positions are District administrators.
Generate Revenue from properties
The district envisions using more properties for educator housing. SFUSD declared the properties at 1620 7th Ave. and 95 Gough St. exempt surplus land for the development of housing for district employees. The chart below shows district properties that are not used for education.
Invest in Priority District Wide Programs
How can the district organize its programs and services in a more equitable, efficient, and effective way across the district?
It is looking at special education and language pathways, improving high schools, key shifts for middle school portfolios, and universal transitional kindergarten.
The chart below shows middle school offering to ensure universal access to core curriculum.
Yes, there is a lot going on.
And I have not even told you about a proposed facility bond or the school board race. More to come.
Carol Kocivar is a children’s advocate and lives in the Westside. Feedback: kocivarATwestsideobserver.com
August 28, 2024
