SFUSD board issues preliminary layoff notices, hears hours of public pleas to save nurses, counselors and AP courses

The San Francisco Unified School District board on Tuesday voted to issue preliminary layoff notices as part of a plan to close an estimated $114,000,000 budget shortfall, after hours of public testimony from students, parents and educators urging the district to protect nurses, counselors, paraprofessionals and Advanced Placement and A–G courses.

Board members approved a package of personnel resolutions in roll-call votes that the clerk recorded as unanimous among the seven voting commissioners. The actions included authorizing the human resources office to issue preliminary notices to certificated staff (395 notices were identified in staff materials) and to classified paraeducators and other classified categories, and to adopt tie-breaker and skipping criteria for any eventual layoffs.

The public hearing and long public-comment period that preceded the votes was dominated by students and school staff telling the board that cuts to wellness centers, school nurses and counselors would harm students’ safety, mental health and college readiness. "Laying off teachers will impact the students' futures," said Luciano Alvarez, a sophomore at Mission High School. "Teachers are a backbone of SFUSD. Losing even just a few means losing mentors who genuinely care." Lanai Molina, also of Mission High School, told the board combo classes and reduced counselor hours would leave students without help: "How will kids get the help they need from their school counselor if the counselor is busy with 10 other people?" Shane West, a Mission junior, warned that eliminating A–G and AP offerings would reduce students' college options.

Union and staff speakers gave detailed accounts of the services they provide. Tianna Tillery, vice president of paraeducators with United Educators of San Francisco, said paraeducators are "the backbone…