Teachers, paraprofessionals and parents urge board to rescind layoffs as union says it has $27 million to offer

San Francisco — United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) and a steady stream of teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses and substitute teachers told the Board of Education on April 13 that layoff notices and “pink slips” will damage classrooms and student services across the district.

Susan Solomon, speaking for UESF, said the union had identified funds it was prepared to contribute to closing the district’s gap: “We were told you needed $27,000,000 from our bargaining unit. We have identified that money,” she said, urging the board to “rescind the teacher layoffs.”

Speakers described the personal and program effects of the cuts. A district nurse, Genevieve Evenhouse, told the board she is one of “11 nurses out of the 32 nurses in the district who got the layoff notice,” warning that students who rely on school‑based health services would be left without support. Third‑grade teacher Dave Mahan said he spent “$957 out of my own pocket for schoolroom supplies this year,” and other teachers described music, art and culinary programs facing elimination.

Representatives from UESF framed the issue as a bargaining and budget shortfall. One union speaker noted that hundreds of staff had received notices: “812 teachers still have pink slips and 277 paraprofessionals are facing the cutting block,” and that child development program staff were also affected.

Teachers and paraeducators asked the board to reconsider central office spending and to pursue alternatives such as furlough days and reductions in consultant contracts. Kevin Whitechuck, a paraprofessional, pointed to district reserves and consultant contracts and asked why those funds were not being used to avert layoffs.

Board members and staff listened but offered few new commitments during the public comment period. Superintendent Garcia responded to parents’ concerns about school closures, saying, “There has never been a discussion to close either of those schools,” addressing worries raised earlier about Willie Brown and Carver Elementary. District staff also scheduled site meetings: the superintendent’s office said it would be at Carver Elementary School on April 22 to provide further information and public input.

The meeting included roughly an hour of public testimony from school staff and community members. Speakers emphasized the stakes for students and urged the board to pursue immediate alternatives to layoffs; the board has not announced a rescission or a new vote tied to the union’s identified funds as of the meeting’s close.

Next steps: district staff said they will continue negotiations and hold school‑level community meetings; UESF said it would continue pressing for rescinding notices and for the district to adopt the union’s proposed contributions.