Board adopts FY2007–08 budget with cuts and a last‑minute amendment restoring Hilltop counselor

The San Francisco Board of Education adopted its FY2007–08 recommended budget on June 18 after a lengthy presentation from senior staff and extensive public comment focused on school‑site impacts. The board approved a budget that staff described as balanced and meeting the state‑required 2% undesignated reserve, but that also included a district‑wide 2% reduction to weighted student formula allocations.

Senior staff outlined the budget’s key elements: updated state projections, additional lease and revenue assumptions, central‑office reductions and a $6.9 million reserve to cover yet‑to‑be‑negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Budget staff warned that the 2% cut would be applied as a placeholder and that school‑by‑school allocations would be further refined over the summer as enrollment and state budget details become clearer.

Public testimony was lengthy and emotional, with speakers from Hilltop School — current students, teachers and partners — urging the board to preserve counseling and support services for pregnant and parenting teens. Testimony emphasized that Hilltop students face greater attendance and health needs and that removing a head counselor could undermine the school’s progress. Students and community partners described concrete services tied to the position, and the Family Service Agency announced $65,000 in fundraising support for the school.

In response to those appeals, Commissioner Kim moved an amendment to prioritize restoring a full‑time head counselor at Hilltop using Prop H third‑third funding; the motion drew seconds and substantial board discussion about fund source flexibility and processes to reallocate Prop H monies. Superintendent Chan said choices were difficult and suggested offsets if the counselor were restored. The board approved the amendment and later adopted the full budget as amended.

Key numbers noted during the hearing included a $6.9 million placeholder for unresolved bargaining agreements and district‑level assumptions of 2% reductions to weighted student formula allocations pending final enrollment and state action. Staff also said some funds (QEIA and special allocations) appear separately on school budget pages and will not replace existing site allocations.

What’s next: Staff will continue school‑by‑school simulations over the summer, adjust allocations for actual enrollments and the final state budget, and report back on implementation of the Hilltop counselor reinstatement and related reallocations.