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Galileo community floods SF school board to protest reassignments; nurse, office staff defended
Summary
Dozens of students, teachers, parents and union leaders urged the San Francisco Board of Education to block reassignment of two longtime Galileo High School staffers, accusing the principal of targeted actions and citing possible retaliation; the board said it had received letters and would investigate.
Dozens of current and former Galileo High School students, teachers and parents came to the San Francisco Board of Education meeting on June 13 to urge the board to reverse or investigate recent reassignments that would remove two long'standing staff members from the school'nurse Susan Kitchell and main'office employee Betty Grinnell.
"I'm asking you to direct that I remain at Galileo High School," school nurse Susan Kitchell told the board, describing her 21 years of service and saying she feared the reassignment was retaliation for speaking up on behalf of students ("I am asking you to direct that I remain at Galileo High School.").
The comments were echoed across a steady stream of speakers: teachers said Kitchell and Grinnell were central to Galileo's functioning; students and alumni described the pair as pillars of the school; and union leaders said the reassignment appeared to target a union building representative and bargaining team member.
"Susan Kitchell is not only a respected and dedicated school nurse, she is also an activist union member," said Susan Solomon, executive vice president of UESF, arguing that the reassignment could reflect anti'union animus rather than performance concerns.
Parents and students submitted a petition asking the board to rescind the principal's decision and presented thousands of signatures collected online and in the community. Several public speakers said the principal's approach has left the school tense and raised concerns about ageism, sexism and retaliation.
Board President Shamann Walton acknowledged receipt of letters and told speakers the district was paying attention and would follow up. "We did receive your letter, and we're definitely looking into the matter," he said during the public comment exchange.
The board did not take a formal action on the reassignments at the June 13 meeting. Several speakers said they expected further engagement from district staff and the board and warned that the controversy had already prompted community petitions and social media mobilization.
What happens next: speakers asked the board to investigate the principal's rationale and to consider reversing the reassignments. The district said it would review the written materials submitted and follow up with appropriate staff; no formal personnel vote was taken at the meeting.
