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Public commenters press SFUSD on after-school programs, bargaining impasse and student assignment
Summary
During general public comment, speakers urged retention of the Excel after-school program, criticized bargaining practices and an impasse declared with SEIU, raised concerns about student assignment maps and Spanish immersion continuity, and described SIS/IT problems that affected transcripts and school operations.
A lengthy public comment period at the Aug. 24 SFUSD board meeting covered multiple community concerns.
Mission High School nurse Judy Rosenfeld urged the board to retain and restart the Excel after-school program, saying more than half of her students participate and staff refer students regularly. SEIU representatives Caden Kratzer and Yvonne Johnson Miller said negotiations with the district stalled after multiple bargaining sessions, alleged the district declared an impasse and cited charges filed with the state Public Employment Relations Board; they warned the union would challenge the impasse and raise grievances over alleged failures to bargain in good faith and unpaid overtime.
Parents and educators raised problems with the district's SIS (student information) rollout, reporting delayed transcripts and early opening-day logistics problems (water, building access fob timing), which they said disrupted school openings. Community speakers also praised the National Urban Alliance (NUA) programs and called for continuation and expansion; speakers representing limited-English parents thanked the district's translation and interpretation unit for pre-school-year workshops that helped families navigate enrollment.
Board members acknowledged the concerns, asked staff for follow-up, and noted several items (SIS complaints, contract and labor issues, Excel program questions and budget discrepancies flagged by union representatives) for committee follow-up or staff responses.
