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SFUSD outlines phased reopening, but testing RFP and vaccines remain gating issues
Summary
SFUSD presented a phased roadmap to bring priority groups back to campus with hybrid scheduling; staff has issued an RFP for student surveillance testing (closes Feb. 22) and aims to stand up sites by March 15, but pointed to vaccine supply and DPH capacity as the main limits to widespread reopening.
San Francisco Unified School District staff laid out a phased plan to reopen school buildings for priority student groups while underscoring two major gaps: large‑scale testing operations and vaccination supply.
Superintendent Matthew told the board the district had reached a tentative agreement with union partners on health and safety principles and that staff had been preparing detailed operational protocols for phased reopening. “We have reached a tentative agreement with our combined labor partners regarding health and safety,” the superintendent said, introducing the update.
The plan prioritizes preschool through second grade and students in designated special‑education (SDC) classes for the first wave; the district intends to operate a hybrid model for those students, offering two consecutive in‑person days each week with a full school day when students attend in person. Staff also described a “wave” approach for elementary schools and a phased queue for middle and high schools tied to public‑health conditions.
Key operational points: the district released a request for proposals to provide regular surveillance testing for staff and students (RFP closes Feb. 22); staff said they hope to have testing sites operating around March 15. Facilities and custodial teams have staged classrooms to comply with DPH guidance; DPH inspections are underway in a first group of schools and the district is scheduling follow‑up inspections for subsequent waves. Facilities leaders asked for city assistance — in the form of general labor support — to accelerate window inventories and site preparation.
Public comment spanned parents, teachers and students. Many parents and teachers urged faster timelines and more aggressive use of evidence‑based approaches to reopen (including outdoor instruction and rapid testing). Others cautioned that staff safety and thorough public‑health protocols (vaccination of staff and reliable surveillance testing) must be met before a broad return.
What’s next: The district will complete RFP evaluation for testing partners, continue DPH site inspections in waves and finalize detailed family communications and orientation materials when schools have firm reopening dates. Officials said vaccination supply and large‑scale testing capacity outside the district’s control remain the principal gating factors to larger returns.
