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Parents and educators press SFUSD for space at Mission Educational Center and raises for staff
Summary
Parents of newcomers urged the board to preserve dedicated space and counseling resources at Mission Educational Center; teachers and paraprofessionals testified about housing unaffordability and called for a timely contract settlement and salary increases.
Parents of students at the Mission Educational Center (MEC) and educators took the podium during public comment to urge the San Francisco Unified School District board to protect space and services for recently arrived students and to resolve contract negotiations that educators say threaten school stability.
Members of the MEC parent group described the school as a ‘‘second home’’ and said shared facilities force individualized testing and counseling to happen in hallways and elevator entryways. One speaker said MEC teachers do not have private counseling space and that the library is being used as a classroom, depriving students of library access. The parents asked the district to seek alternate buildings rather than relocating MEC classrooms and emphasized the importance of culturally responsive teachers and weekly parent meetings.
Teacher and staff speakers tied these program concerns to broader workforce stability. Christine Ng, a special‑education paraprofessional at San Francisco Community School, said paraprofessionals have gone without raises for years: "It's my understanding that paras haven't received a raise in over 6 years," she said, adding that monthly rent exceeds her paycheck. Aaron Hall, a classroom teacher, and Robert Smith, a 16‑year paraprofessional at Washington High School, described housing pressures that may force staff to leave the district. Diana Gomez, a longtime teacher, warned the board staff could walk out if compensation does not improve.
Susan Solomon, executive vice president of United Educators of San Francisco, echoed the call to settle the contract, noting a $60,000 donation from the National Education Association to support teachers but urging a district commitment to raises so educators can remain in the city.
Board response and next steps: the board accepted the public comments into the record. Superintendent Carranza offered to follow up with Spanish‑language outreach during the meeting and staff promised to provide written responses where appropriate. The public comments prompted several board members to note the My Brother's Keeper initiative and other city partnerships as possible supports; no personnel or budget decisions were taken at this meeting.
Sources: Multiple public‑comment speakers at SFUSD Board of Education meeting (Antoinette and other MEC parents; Christine Ng; Aaron Hall; Robert Smith; Diana Gomez; Susan Solomon).
