By hannover-web.com San Francisco Mayor London Breed has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding the school closure plans in the district. On the 15th, she issued a strong statement, criticizing the district’s superintendent and demanding an immediate halt to the school closures.
In her statement, Breed expressed her concern about the chaotic situation, stating that the proposed list of school closures and the management of the San Francisco Unified School District left her feeling confused and worried. “Whatever objectives this closure proposal aims to achieve, or could potentially achieve, have already failed,” she said.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Breed nearly called for the resignation of Superintendent Matt Wayne, but ultimately refrained from doing so. Nevertheless, she made it clear that she has “lost confidence” in Wayne’s ability to manage the closure plans effectively.
Wayne did not directly respond to Breed’s statement but later sent a letter to the San Francisco Unified School District community that same day. In his letter, he mentioned, “Over the next two weeks, I will meet with students, parents, and staff from the 13 schools that meet the criteria for closure or merger to listen to their concerns and questions. I understand that nothing can make these discussions easier. However, it’s unacceptable and unsustainable to maintain the status quo in the San Francisco Unified School District with budget cuts looming.”
Wayne argued that the rationale for closing schools stems from a continued decline in enrollment. Over the past two decades, the district has had approximately 14,000 vacant student seats, resulting in reduced funding from the state of California. While school closures alone cannot resolve the district’s budget deficit, consolidating schools could save the district between $1 million and $2 million for each closure.
However, following a series of crises within the district, many parents and staff have lost trust and support in the administration. These crises have included issues with the teacher pay system, staffing vacancies, recruitment failures, and a lack of educators for thousands of special education students.
Three weeks ago, Breed dispatched a team of high-level city officials to assist the district in analyzing its financial and operational status. She also allocated $8.5 million to help stabilize the situation.
“I understand that discussions about closing and merging schools are difficult and painful,” Breed stated. “That’s why any plans emerging from this dialogue must be careful, clear, and feasible. However, I do not see those possibilities, nor do I believe they can arise under the current circumstances.”
