SFUSD board ratifies MOU with United Educators of San Francisco on crisis distance learning

The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education on Aug. 11 ratified a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) that sets terms for crisis distance learning for the 2020–21 school year. The board approved the agreement following presentations from Superintendent Dr. Benson Matthews and the district’s chief of labor relations and public comment from union and community representatives.

The MOU covers arrangements for instruction during the pandemic but does not change grading policy, board members were told. Chief of labor relations Greg Dunn said the MOU’s text is posted in BoardDocs and that a separate conversation about grading remains underway; staff said the status quo grading rules remain in force unless and until the board adopts revisions.

Board members asked for clarification about educator accommodations and access to workspaces. Dunn and other staff said the MOU includes provisions about accommodations for employees who need an on-site workspace; the district plans to launch a survey by the end of the week to collect educator requests and to assign spaces by the end of the month in coordination with union leadership.

Union leaders speaking at public comment urged approval. Susan Solomon, identified in the meeting as president of UESF, supported the agreement and asked the board to consider supporting related workforce needs such as access to space and health benefits for other district contractors.

The board took a roll-call vote and the motion carried (board recorded the vote as five ayes at the time of this item). The board’s action ratifies the MOU and directs staff to implement the procedures described, including the forthcoming survey for workspace requests.

The board did not place grading changes in the MOU; members said any grading policy changes would be addressed separately.