San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su has made important strides forward for the school district in her first six months on the job since coming over from City Hall. Her decisions have been regularly endorsed by a unanimous Board of Education. Last week, Su announced that the school district would no longer need to send proposed layoff notifications to classroom teachers as a result of the district surpassing its goal of persuading 325 senior teachers to take a retirement buyout incentive. But the course of last Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting laid bare another looming crisis that could reverse its gains — heightened parent dissatisfaction with not being heard.
At a time when parents are being told they will have to sacrifice many school services and supports they have been accustomed to in San Francisco, many feel more shut out than ever. Alienation boiled over Tuesday night after many parents had waited up to four hours to speak to the board only to have just four be permitted to speak for one minute each in an almost 90-minute public comment period. As one parent in attendance described the situation afterward, “Locally and nationally, people have lost faith in institutions due to gaslighting and race to the bottom. The parents who waited four hours and then were denied the opportunity to speak are clearly not part of the community the school district cares about. If we aren’t heard or don’t get answers, parents who have choices will leave.”
For the stated purpose of “centering students,” the board’s meeting rules place every student speaker ahead of any adult. This sometimes almost completely crowds out parents. Student speakers are as young as second graders and occasionally give remarks seemingly prepared by adult teachers or parents. Meanwhile, parents who are often school site leaders and other adults who have a vast history of community leadership and knowledge of prior school district budget and curriculum decisions are left waiting to speak and provided less and less time. While the intention to elevate student voices is admirable, the most relevant, authoritative and critical input is sidelined. Decisions from enrollment to field trip participation depend on parents. School district and board leaders who depend upon parents’ satisfaction, dollars, and support must find a way to include them in a meaningful way by letting them speak at board meetings and providing them information the rest of the time.
Here are some suggestions:
Equal consideration for all public commenters: All individuals or organizations wanting to present their views at board meetings should have an equal opportunity. This can be accomplished by an advanced online sign up to testify or to submit written testimony that will be posted publicly and be part of the meeting record. School boards in Philadelphia, Boston, Las Vegas, and other cities offer these alternatives so that parents or other stakeholders are assured they will be heard, one way or another.
School district and board leaders who depend upon parents’ satisfaction, dollars, and support must find a way to include them by letting them speak at meetings and providing them information the rest of the time.
Restore staff support for student board members: Students select two student board members who attend every meeting and cast an advisory vote on Board of Education action items. They have almost 50,000 constituents and are literally “at the table” when decisions are made. Last year, a staff support position was eliminated from the district budget. Restoring it is a better way to “center student voice” and address individual concerns without the necessity of prioritizing one-minute student public testimonies over parents, educators, and other stakeholders.
Require staff follow up and response: What parents want more than to give a one-minute speech at a meeting is the belief that they’ve been heard and someone in charge will follow up. San Francisco should consider adopting something like the Atlanta Public Schools’ Let’s Talk system that promises written staff follow up to parent and stakeholder questions and concerns in lieu of one-minute of public testimony.
Start meetings earlier: Currently, the board meets only twice per month. More meetings or starting them earlier even while keeping the 8 p.m. deadline for public comment would enable more people to speak to the board.
Restore Board of Education committees: The Board of Education used to have committees for curriculum, budget, buildings and grounds, and other subjects that provided more opportunities for public input and thorough consideration by board members of school district staff recommendations. Restoring committees would increase public awareness and accountability of proposed school district actions.
Get out to the neighborhoods: Occasionally, but regularly, holding board meetings at school sites throughout the city will make it easier for families and community members to attend in person. In the current fiscal crisis, the superintendent and Board of Education members should hold joint town halls with Mayor Lurie and members of the Board of Supervisors to demonstrate a shared commitment to our public schools and elevate awareness of the ways in which city funds already provide support to youth and schools and what else can be done.
Welcome and engage SFUSD alumni back to their schools: The well-known aphorism that the first question asked when San Francisco natives meet is, “Where’d you go to high school?” emanates from the pride of being products of our schools. Natives and newcomers alike should be welcomed back not just for their dollars but for their desires to tutor and mentor students, repair and replenish school sites, and help the school district with technological and organizational reforms.
School district officials should find a way to fully utilize and not reject parent dollars raised for school sites. The current policy has left too many parents discouraged and confused as to what they are permitted to fundraise for and contribute to in order to restore expected cuts and to improve the resources available at their schools.
Parents expect to be equal partners with schools in their children’s education. If they do not feel they are being treated that way at board meetings and elsewhere, they may exit from the public schools and take with them the revenue that Superintendent Su and the Board of Education are depending on to achieve budget success.