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Board honors San Francisco Food Bank, unanimously dedicates Dan Ryan art room
Summary
The San Francisco Unified School District Board recognized the San Francisco Food Bank's partnership delivering weekly Healthy Children Pantries and unanimously approved naming an art room at Dianne Feinstein Elementary after educator Dan Ryan.
The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education on May 15 passed a resolution commending the San Francisco Food Bank for its role supplying weekly Healthy Children Pantries in 34 city schools and for distributing more than 2,000,300 pounds of food annually to families in need. The board also voted to dedicate the art room at Dianne Feinstein Elementary School's Parkside Campus as the Dan Ryan Art Room.
The resolution read by Commissioner Feuer noted that the Food Bank's Healthy Children Pantries serve about 3,200 SFUSD families each week and that the district serves approximately 56,000 school-age children. Paul Ash, executive director of the San Francisco Food Bank, accepted the honor and said the organization is "glad we have the resources and are able to provide food for the principals, the parent volunteers, the teachers, and for the families themselves to prepare meals at home, so their families can be stronger and kids can come to school ready to learn."
Board members and community speakers emphasized the Food Bank's impact on school communities. Commissioner Marase described weekly school food distributions that bring families back to campus, strengthen school ties and offer healthy snacks to students. Commissioner Feuer said she drafted the commendation after witnessing food bank deliveries while visiting schools. After discussion, the board approved the resolution by roll call vote: 7 ayes.
Separately, the board considered a naming resolution for a Dan Ryan Art Room at Dianne Feinstein Elementary School, introduced by board authors and supported by Principal Chang and school community members who described Ryan's decades of service promoting arts and music in the district. The board suspended its rules to act immediately and unanimously adopted the dedication.
The actions were procedural but highlighted the district's reliance on community partners and local volunteers to support students amid broader budget pressures. The Food Bank was invited to step to the podium to receive the board's commendation and representatives acknowledged the district's partnership.
The board moved on after the honors to remaining agenda items, including updates on restorative practices and a public nutrition assessment.
