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Parents, students and staff implore SFUSD to rescind paraeducator layoffs; Lowell journalists call for adviser reinstatement
Summary
Hundreds of public commenters pleaded with the San Francisco Unified School District board to rescind layoff notices for paraeducators and counselors, warned of classroom harm if trusted staff are removed, and Lowell High students urged reinstatement of their journalism adviser after a reassignment. Speakers cited petitions, signed letters and concrete examples of school-level harm.
The public comment period at the May 13 SFUSD board meeting featured sustained appeals from students, parents, paraeducators and union leaders asking the board to rescind layoffs that they said would strip schools of translators, attendance aides and LGBTQ supports.
Multiple speakers named specific staff members and roles they said are essential. Anna Chan, a third-grade teacher at Visitation Valley Elementary School, told the board that a particular paraeducator known as "Mr. R" is indispensable: "Mr. R helps with attendance... he makes connections with families... I had a kid who was having a difficult day... he got Mr. R and 15 minutes with him, and she came back ready to learn," Chan said.
Kenna Hazelwood, the district's LGBTQ student services coordinator, testified that the role is effectively synonymous with the program. "My…
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