SFUSD board authorizes preliminary layoff notices as district seeks to close $114 million gap

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) announced plans at a board meeting to issue preliminary layoff notices to certificated and classified employees as part of steps to close an estimated $114,000,000 budget shortfall.

Superintendent Dr. Matt Hsu presented the district—s budget balancing framework and timeline, saying constrained revenues from falling enrollment and the end of one-time COVID relief funds have left the district “spending more than we—re making.” Meli Lau Smith, executive director for special initiatives and budget, described how site budgets combine unrestricted and restricted funding sources and said principals received preliminary school budgets last week.

The board also heard a separate presentation from Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Amy Baer on the personnel actions staff will pursue if the board proceeds. Baer said the district intends to issue up to 395 preliminary notices to certificated staff, including 280 positions currently funded from discretionary or restricted sources whose future funding is not yet finalized. The staff recommendation also includes preliminary notices affecting classified paraeducator categories; Baer told the board the staffing allocation shows a reduction of 14 R‑series paraeducator positions and other reductions tied to the uncertain status of restricted funds. The district earlier authorized notices to 149 certificated administrators and said it will bring recommendations for civil service layoffs at the April meeting.

Why it matters: roughly 80 percent of SFUSD—s budget is labor costs, so large workforce reductions are central to any plan to restore long‑term fiscal stability and avoid state takeover. The board and staff emphasized the notices are preliminary: state law requires March 15 notice of possible reassignment or layoff for certificated staff and a May 15 deadline for final notices; civil service employees follow a different process and are expected to be addressed in April.

Public comment and concerns: more than 70 speakers signed up to address the budget; many students and school staff urged the board to protect school nurses, counselors, social workers, librarians, paraeducators, safety staff and A–G/AP classes. In public comment, Crystal Sokoloff, a school nurse at Emma Kay Middle School, described a medical emergency she handled and told the board, “Full time, site‑based nurses save lives.” Tianna Tillery, vice president of the paraeducators— union United Educators of San Francisco, warned the cuts would hit low‑paid classified staff who provide daily direct support and said, “These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are people.”

How the process will proceed: staff said the district met its participation threshold for a voluntary retirement incentive program (SERP) that closed Feb. 21 and will present SERP approvals next month. Staff will continue to work to identify restricted funding that can be repurposed to preserve school‑based positions, finalize a supplemental hiring guide to advise principals how site discretionary funds may be used, and return to the board with the second interim financial report on March 11. The schedule staff outlined: March 11 (second interim), March 15 (statutory preliminary notices), May (May revise and final decisions), and June (final budget adoption).

Board action: the board approved a set of personnel resolutions that permit staff to issue the preliminary certificated and classified notices. Roll calls recorded all present voting yes on each resolution. The board also reported closed‑session actions earlier in the evening: in a matter of anticipated litigation (SN v. SFUSD, Superior Court case cited in closed session), the board voted to authorize payment up to the stipulated amount, and it approved a resignation agreement for a permanent classified employee; those closed session actions were reported after the board returned to open session.

What remains unclear: staff repeatedly said decisions about some school site positions depend on the district—s ability to identify and allocate restricted funds (for example, parcel tax/PEAF funds, Title funds, grants). Staff has not yet published a final list of which restricted funds will support which positions next year; principals have been asked to discuss site allocations with their school site councils during March planning sessions.

Quotes from the meeting

• “Full time, site‑based nurses save lives.” — Crystal Sokoloff, school nurse, Emma Kay Middle School.

• “These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are people.” — Tianna Tillery, vice president, United Educators of San Francisco (paraeducators).