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SFUSD presents instructional technology plan calling for staffing and $13.48M five‑year investment
Summary
District staff presented an instructional technology master plan that found 70% of site computers older than four years, severe understaffing and deferred wiring; the five‑year estimate to upgrade infrastructure and staffing is $13,480,000, with initial donor support noted.
San Francisco — At the Nov. 13 meeting the San Francisco Unified School District presented its Instructional Technology Master Plan, outlining infrastructure deficits, staffing shortfalls and a five‑year cost estimate to bring sites up to acceptable levels for online classrooms and administrative systems.
Brianna Ford Meyer, who delivered the presentation, said district assessments show approximately 70% of school computers are more than four years old and that district‑wide IT staffing is dramatically below industry standards: private‑sector norms are roughly one technician per 50 computers, in comparable districts one per 250, and SFUSD currently budgets roughly one technician per 1,600 computers. Meyer called the current state "abysmal," citing wiring last updated 15–20 years ago at many sites and more than 3,000 emergency service requests in the first month of the school year.
The plan outlines a five‑year estimated annual cost of $13,480,000, which would fund additional IT personnel (targeting roughly one technician per 500 computers), zone technical supports, a reinstated technical resource center for refurbishing hardware and distribution, replacement of an aging student information system (SIS) and other ongoing infrastructure improvements. Meyer said year‑one costs are higher to account for new SIS implementation and that Oakland USD had spent $11 million on SIS consulting, contrasting with SFUSD’s considerably smaller recent investment in SIS technology.
Superintendent Garcia noted a first donor — Wells Fargo — had committed $30,000 to the district’s effort and said sale proceeds from the earlier property auction could be used for wiring and other facilities improvements to support the technology plan. The board said the technology presentation would be incorporated into a broader strategic plan to be advanced in January.
What happens next: District staff will incorporate the technology plan into its strategic plan and pursue additional donor and funding sources; some investments will require dedicated facilities funding and multi‑year commitments.
