Tough Decisions But At What Costs
Although the school year has just begun, San Francisco public schools have not been effectively meeting the needs of their students or teachers, as we can see in the numerous empty classrooms this year. A decrease in enrollment and teacher/staff retention due to inadequatefunding has made it difficult for SFUSD to start the year on a good note. Because of this, SFUSD is making decisions such as school closures and mergers, essential staff, and math instructions. However, superintendent Matt Wayne says these decisions might affect their abilities to do other core things like paying teachers more and keep schools open.
It is absolutely unacceptable that our public schools have to make decisions like whether certain schools need counselors, or if our middle schoolers need Algebra 1, because we do not have adequate funding. California needs to do more to make sure our students are not placed in “either-or “ situations. They deserve essential staff members AND teachers who are being paid a livable wage. They deserve to have full classrooms AND math classes at their level. It’s time to prioritize sustainable education funding for all students and teachers. Corporations need to pay their fair share, so our students do not have to pay the price for their education.
Image Credit: Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle
SFUSD faces tough decisions on staffing, school closures as district nears fiscal cliff
Jill Tucker | SF Chronicle | Aug. 18, 2023