Superintendent highlights CTE programs, student transfers and grant extension

Superintendent Richard Carranza opened his report by informing the board that the student wait‑pool process (for families requesting transfers) has resulted in over 650 students receiving a wait‑pool choice since June 1. Carranza highlighted career and technical education at multiple sites: Washington High School's auto shop restarted with community donations (including an engine block from San Francisco Toyota) and John O’Connell High School launched a culinary arts program led by master chef Dan Schroeder that includes restaurant‑quality kitchen training and job certification opportunities.

Carranza also described a school farm at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts supported by Echo SF and ECO San Francisco, used as part of environmental science curriculum and to supply a weekly stand. Closing his remarks, Carranza announced that the California Department of Education approved a one‑year extension for SFUSD to continue spending School Improvement Grant funds previously awarded to nine district schools; the district said this extension resulted from implementation efficacy and state delays that produced carryover funds.

Board members recognized the superintendent's updates and community donations cited in the report. The transcript does not include budgetary detail for the grant extension or a line-by-line accounting of how the extended funds will be spent; district staff indicated the extension will support ongoing school improvement strategies and multi-tiered student support systems.