Students, teachers and parents urge board to spare music, arts and language programs

A steady stream of public comment at the San Francisco Unified School District meeting focused on proposed cuts to arts, music and world-language offerings, with students and teachers urging trustees to preserve programs that community members said are crucial for college access and student engagement.

Parents and students from George Washington High School described the prospect of losing third-year language courses and music programs that they said are central to preparation for University of California and Cal State admissions. "My goal is to attend UC, and with budgets this year, it might not happen," said Victoria Tam, a junior at George Washington High.

Music and arts teachers testified about promises of program restoration not being fulfilled and the loss of sequential arts pathways. John Frank, a music teacher at Hoover Middle School, called the missing high-school music program at Lincoln "an equity issue" and recounted community commitments to reinstate instruction.

STAR program teachers and arts advocates described multiple years of layoff notices and a consolidation that they said risks removing arts access for underserved elementary students. "I am their access to arts," said Susanna Morgan, who said she had received layoff notices and works with students who otherwise would not have art instruction.

Speakers asked the board to prioritize classroom staff and direct the district to seek cuts elsewhere in the administration. Several speakers also urged the board to restore the 200 students whose reassignment reduced Washington's enrollment and funding.

The board heard the comments as it considered districtwide fiscal measures and legal obligations tied to the statewide budget picture. Trustees acknowledged the community testimony and discussed continued advocacy in Sacramento alongside the district's need to comply with state-required layoff procedures.