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Families, staff urge SFUSD to restore Galingbata Filipino after‑school pathway
Summary
Dozens of students, parents and staff urged the San Francisco Board of Education to restore Galingbata, an 18‑year Filipino after‑school and summer program at Bessie Carmichael FEC, saying recent Beacon implementation and funding cuts reduced culturally relevant instruction and harmed students’ identity and mental health.
Dozens of students, parents and program staff urged the San Francisco Board of Education on Oct. 15 to restore the Galingbata Filipino after‑school and summer pathway at Bessie Carmichael Filipino Education Center, saying recent changes have reduced the program’s hours and cultural content.
"Galingbata is important to me because it is like a second family to me," said Maya Masaga, a fifth‑grade student who testified during public comment about reductions that now limit instruction to "2 to 3 hours a week." Parents, alumni and staff described the program as 18 years old, a hub for Tagalog language instruction and a support for newly arrived Filipino families.
Speakers said the district’s Beacon Center rollout has cut Galingbata’s hours and funding. Parent Ruby Terralba told the board that Filipino students face disproportionately high rates of mental‑health risks and argued culturally responsive programming is part of prevention. "Without Galingbata, our students will lose a critical connection to language, culture and family," she said.
Program leaders asked for a Monday‑to‑Friday pathway running from school dismissal to 6 p.m. and requested clarity about funding sources. Several parents described concrete harms: children losing consistent language instruction, families having less childcare coverage, and diminished community trust.
Board rules prevented a back‑and‑forth response during public comment; staff and commissioners later acknowledged the concerns. President Cook reminded the public of board procedures for speaker cards and two‑minute comments. Superintendent Dr. Vince Matthews had earlier noted the district’s commitment to biliteracy and language programs but did not announce a specific immediate remedy at the meeting.
Next steps: families sought a formal board or staff response and follow‑up from the superintendent’s office about funding allocations and whether Galingbata can be restored to a full after‑school and summer pathway. The board did not take a formal vote on the program during the meeting.
