Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
San Francisco parents and students press school board over seven-week teacher vacancy at Sunnyside Elementary
Loading...
Summary
Dozens of Sunnyside parents, students and community members told the San Francisco Board of Education on Sept. 27 they have endured seven weeks and multiple substitutes in one fifth-grade classroom and demanded a permanent credentialed teacher and clearer district timelines.
Dozens of parents, students and community members told the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education on Sept. 27 that one Sunnyside Elementary fifth-grade class has gone without a permanent teacher for roughly seven weeks.
"My son still does not have a teacher, and there's no clear direction when we'll get one," parent Aragorn Healy said during public comment, describing a rotating roster of substitutes and a substitute who was only scheduled for a two-week assignment. "At this point, we're at least at the seventh different sub that has been in the classroom." (Aragorn Healy)
Multiple speakers painted a consistent picture: inconsistent curriculum, lost instructional time, unmet IEP accommodations and low morale. "We have no one to talk to about the kids' progress in the classroom, no consistency in the classroom, and no sense of a timeline for change," said parent Tori Emery, who described children whose preparation for middle school is being eroded "one day at a time." (Tori Emery)
Students who addressed the board said frequent teacher turnover has made it difficult to learn and keep classroom rules in place. "It can be hard for us to focus… we already have about five or maybe six substitutes this past seven weeks," student Dahlia Bolanos said, asking the board to "please help us get a permanent teacher." (Dahlia Bolanos)
Board members and staff listened during the public comment portion but kept the board's formal response within procedural limits for an item not on the agenda. After the public comment period, Interim Superintendent Lee said the district shares the community's goal of placing a permanent teacher in every classroom and that staff were working "very intentionally to address the situation." Lee said the district would regroup to provide clearer short-term plans and further communications to families. (Superintendent Lee)
Parents said an earlier demonstration and strike of about 60 students on Sept. 16 had not produced a lasting solution and urged the board to remove administrative barriers, directly engage the teacher and union representatives, and provide a public timeline. Linda Long, who said her three sons attend Sunnyside, told the board the situation had persisted for "31 academic days" and emphasized the emotional toll on children.
The board did not take a formal vote on the Sunnyside staffing matter at the Sept. 27 meeting. Instead, Superintendent Lee said staff would provide follow-up communication and clarification of short-term staffing plans for the school.
What happens next: Superintendent Lee pledged staff would clarify immediate plans and timelines; parents asked for direct meetings involving the principal, site staff, human resources and union representatives. The board indicated willingness to receive updates but did not adopt a directive or motion on the floor that evening.
