Supervisor Ronan urges $3.5M local commitment for testing at community learning hubs

Supervisor Ronan told the Budget & Appropriations Committee on Aug. 26 that proactive testing of community learning hubs would provide important surveillance as schools reopen and hubs serve vulnerable children. He proposed a testing cadence that would test half of the children in a hub every two weeks (so each child once per month) and test adults in the hub twice monthly. His estimate for the program was about $7 million a year; he asked the mayor to consider a $3.5 million local add‑back on the expectation that roughly half could be reimbursed (FEMA or other sources).

DPH Director Dr. Grant Colfax and DPH staff said the department recognizes the importance of testing but emphasized that the science on optimal cadence in such settings is evolving. DPH has been working with UCSF infectious‑disease and pediatric experts and is reviewing targeted testing designs; the department said additional resources would increase capacity and flexibility but could not yet endorse the specific cadence without technical review with subject‑matter experts and DCYF stakeholders.

Both the mayor's budget director and DPH indicated conversations were ongoing about how to fund testing and about seeking other reimbursement sources including private insurance where applicable. The committee asked DPH and budget staff for further cost details and implementation plans to support any final appropriation.

Next steps: DPH to return with a technical testing design and more detailed cost estimate; the committee to consider funding as part of the larger FY2021–22 appropriations process.