SFUSD board extends Maria Hsuas superintendent through mid-2028 after debate over process

The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve an employment agreement for Doctor Maria Hsu, extending her contract from Jan. 5, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with an annual salary of $385,000. General Counsel read the agreement into the record before the roll-call vote, which the board recorded as seven ayes.

The decision followed extensive public comment and more than an hour of discussion among commissioners about transparency, community input, and educational leadership. Commissioner Ray said she would vote yes but urged more public engagement, calling the publicprocess around the contractinsufficient. Commissioner Alexander acknowledged Hsuefforts and urged the superintendent to deepen partnerships with educators, who have raised concerns about whether district leadership sufficiently hears school-based professionals.

Hsu, who addressed the board after the vote, thanked commissioners and said she would pursue a national search for a deputy superintendent of educational services and continue to focus on stabilizing the districtoperations and student outcomes. "I welcome everyone to hold me accountable to achieving these things," she said.

Votes at a glance: the board approved multiple personnel actions during the meeting, including stipulated expulsion agreements for several student matters (board recorded as unanimous for each item), two provisional internship permits for classroom teachers (roll call recorded as six ayes for that item) and the superintendentemployment agreement (7-0).

Next steps: Commissioners and the superintendent agreed to continue public engagement and to present implementation plans tied to the districtgoals and guardrails for board review.