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Scores of parents, teachers and students urge SFUSD to rescind layoffs; health and counseling services singled out
Summary
At the April 27 meeting dozens of public speakers — students, teachers, nurses, counselors, paraprofessionals and union leaders — implored the board to rescind proposed layoffs and 'pink slips', warning the cuts would harm students and school stability and calling for other budget approaches.
A long public-comment period at the San Francisco Unified School District’s April 27 meeting focused on proposed layoffs and 'pink slips' affecting teachers, counselors, nurses, paraprofessionals and early-childhood staff.
Student speakers described how budget cuts threaten college and career readiness. Tamika Deese, a Balboa High School student, appealed directly to the board: "You promise to close the achievement gap. You promise to help all students graduate college and career ready. Don't abandon us now. Please don't give up on me."
Representatives of wellness and counseling programs described job losses they said would remove critical supports for students. Michael Shapiro spoke on behalf of his wife, Joanne Cohen, a wellness-center coordinator facing layoff; he described her role in peer resources, leadership and WASC review work. Stuart (last name redacted in transcript) and other school nurses urged the board to reconsider cuts to wellness and nursing positions, stressing the role nurses play in prevention and ongoing student support.
Multiple teachers and union leaders said the district had alternatives to mass layoffs, presented petitions and thousands of signatures, and criticized the district’s bargaining approach. Dennis Kelly, president of United Educators of San Francisco, warned of the risks of impasse and of losing teachers who might seek other work if layoffs are not rescinded; UESF said it had offered significant funds toward closing the district’s budget gap.
Teachers and parents from persistently low-performing schools asked the board to allow transformation plans to proceed without replacing recently appointed principals, arguing leadership stability is necessary for turnaround. Several speakers requested an equity impact report and timetables for how budget decisions will protect equitable outcomes.
The public-comment speakers represented a cross-section of the district’s workforce and communities: student delegates, parent leaders, PTA and PAC representatives, classroom teachers, counselors, nurses, paraprofessionals, and union officials. The board did not take formal action during public comment but heard requests to rescind layoffs and to provide more transparent cost and rescission plans.
Next steps: multiple commissioners and staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would continue negotiations and follow up; the board discussed pending bargaining and mediation dates later in the meeting.
