San Francisco Board of Education: Shaping the City's Public Schools

The San Francisco Board of Education plays a crucial role in determining the direction of public education in the City and County of San Francisco. As the governing body for the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), the board's decisions impact the lives of thousands of students and their families. This article delves into the composition, history, responsibilities, and recent controversies surrounding the SFUSD Board of Education.

Composition and Legal Framework

The San Francisco Board of Education consists of seven Commissioners, who are elected by voters across the city to serve four-year terms. As a public entity, the board operates within a framework of local, state, and federal laws, particularly since the SFUSD receives federal funding. This legal framework dictates the scope of the board's authority and ensures accountability in its decision-making processes.

Responsibilities and Scope of Authority

The primary responsibility of the Board of Education is to determine policy for all K-12 public schools within the SFUSD. This includes a wide range of areas, such as:

Curriculum Development: The board influences the content and structure of academic programs offered in schools.
Budget Allocation: The board oversees the district's budget, making decisions about how funds are allocated to different schools and programs.
School Operations: The board sets policies related to school operations, including student discipline, transportation, and facilities management.
Labor Relations: The board negotiates with labor unions representing teachers and other school staff.
Superintendent Selection: The board is responsible for hiring and overseeing the superintendent of the SFUSD.

A Historical Overview

The history of the San Francisco Board of Education reflects the evolution of public education in the city, marked by both progressive initiatives and periods of controversy.

Early Days of Public Education

In October 1849, John C. Pelton established a school in a Baptist church in San Francisco, supported by voluntary donations and tuition, ensuring free access for underprivileged children. In 1850, the city council passed an ordinance establishing a free public school system for all children, a pioneering move in California.

Discrimination and Segregation

The Board of Education's history is not without its blemishes. In 1905, amidst rising Japanese immigration to the United States, the board mandated that Japanese American and Korean American students in public schools be transferred to the Oriental Public School, which already served Chinese students. This discriminatory action sparked outrage from the Empire of Japan, prompting intervention from President Theodore Roosevelt, who was wary of Japan's recent victory in the Russo-Japanese War.

Transition to Elected Board Members

For several decades leading up to 1971, school board members were appointed by the mayor and subsequently confirmed by voters in the following election. However, in November 1971, voters approved Proposition S, which established the direct election of Board of Education members by voters.

Superintendent Tenures and Controversies

The tenures of SFUSD superintendents have often been marked by both progress and controversy.

Arlene Ackerman: Arlene Ackerman's tenure as superintendent began on August 1, 2000, succeeding Superintendent Bill Rojas. Ackerman overhauled the district's facilities department, which was misappropriating city funds. Investigations led to financial settlements for the district by companies who were defrauding them and the federal government, garnering the district more than $45 million dollars. Ackerman faced opposition from the board's liberal members. Toward the end of her tenure, Ackerman was approved a raise, which included a salary of $250,000 and a $375,000 severance package among other benefits, by a 4 to 3 vote during a projected budget shortfall of $22 million which closed four schools. In June 2005, Supervisor Matt Gonzalez sued Ackerman, claiming that the raise was illegal. Ackerman officially quit in June 2006. Commissioner Daniel P. Kelly, an ally of Ackerman's, said that she was "being forced out" due to the "intolerable" infighting.
Carlos Garcia: The board voted 6-1 in June 2007 to hire Carlos Garcia as the new superintendent, signing a contract that was less costly than Ackerman's.
Richard A. Carranza: On July 27, 2016, Superintendent Richard A. Carranza announced he would be leaving the district to become superintendent of the Houston Independent School District in Texas.
Vincent Matthews: Vincent Matthews was appointed superintendent on May 1, 2017, and he served until June 30, 2022. In March 2021, Superintendent Matthews announced his intent to retire in June 2021. He agreed to delay his retirement to the end of 2022 upon a deal with the board.
Matt Wayne: In May 2022, the Board of Education selected Matt Wayne to replace outgoing Superintendent Vince Matthews. Wayne was the superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District until his resignation on October 18, 2024.
Maria Su: Dr. Maria Su, Psy.D., is the current Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Key Issues and Controversies

The SFUSD Board of Education has faced numerous controversies in recent years, reflecting broader debates about education policy and social justice.

JROTC Program

A non-binding measure called Proposition V was placed on the November 4, 2008 general ballot in San Francisco that supported the reinstatement of the JROTC program in the City. The proposition passed.

Support for Homeless Families

In March 2019, the board unanimously voted to expand the pilot program at Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8 Community School that housed that school's homeless families to include eligibility across the school district.

The Life of Washington Mural Controversy

In September 2016, board president Matt Haney initiated efforts to remove the Life of Washington mural by Victor Arnautoff at George Washington High School, citing objections to its depictions of slaves and a dead Native American. The mural had previously been the subject of controversy in the 1960s and 1970s. In June 2019, the board unanimously voted to paint over the mural, with a provision that allowed the mural to be obfuscated instead if painting over it resulted in delays or other legal issues. After a national outcry, the board reversed its decision in August 2019 by voting 4 to 3 to instead cover the mural.

School Renaming Controversy

In 2018, the board created a task force to study the names of schools within the SFUSD in the wake of Charlottesville car attack. The 12-person committee recommended 44 names that met the criteria of being associated with the European colonization of the Americas, slavery in the United States, exploitation, racism, or abuse for renaming. Critics called the renaming effort ill-timed, amateurish and wasteful-citing factual errors, the absence of historians on the committee, inadequate amount of public input, and the US$1,000,000 price tag during a budget deficit estimated to be at around US$75,000,000 as primary issues. The board unanimously voted to reverse the vote to rename schools on April 6, 2021, citing the potentially high cost of litigation against the suit.

Lowell High School Admissions Policy

In March 2021, Harmeet Dhillon represented a group of Lowell community members and threatened to sue the board, calling the end of the testing-based admission system "an unconstitutional and illegal program designed to disenfranchise hardworking students". On April 23, 2021, a separate lawsuit was filed against the board, claiming that the board had violated California's Brown Act when it changed the school's admission policy without allowing enough time for public outreach and comment. On November 18, 2021, Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman agreed with the plaintiffs and nullified the board's February 2021 decision to change the admission policy.

COVID-19 Pandemic and School Reopening

In June 2020, Superintendent Vincent Matthews brought forth a proposition to hire a consultant to devise a plan to reopen the schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the district's deficit roughly doubled from 2019's $22 million. On February 3, 2021, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced that he will sue the Board of Education, SFUSD, and Superintendent Matthews for violating state law by not having a plan to "offer classroom-based instruction whenever possible".

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Alison Collins Controversy

On December 4, 2016, prior to her assumption of office to the Board of Education in 2019, Alison Collins posted a series of derogatory and racially stereotyping tweets against Asian Americans. On March 25, 2021, the board held a special meeting to discuss additional agenda items including a no-confidence vote for Collins. Collins was removed as vice-president of the Board of Education effective immediately after the board approved the vote on March 25, 2021. On March 31, 2021, Collins sued SFUSD and the five Board of Education members who voted against her for $87 million, citing distress and significant loss in reputation and income. On August 16, 2021, Federal Judge Haywood Gilliam, Jr. dismissed Collins' lawsuit.

Budget Deficit and Fiscal Stabilization

On September 15, 2021, the California Department of Education gave the SFUSD three months to approve a fiscal stabilization plan and address a $125 million deficit, about 10% of the budget. If the Board of Education failed to approve a plan, the state would partially take over the district.

Recall Election of 2022

On February 15, 2022, a majority of voters cast ballots in favor of recalling San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education members Gabriela López, Alison Collins, and Faauuga Moliga. Recall supporters said they were frustrated that schools in the district remained closed for nearly a year in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the board had spent time voting to rename 44 buildings in the district rather than focusing on opening schools.

Open Meeting Law Violations

While the live audience at board meetings has been dissolving into chaos over the last 12 months, the board members themselves have been busy violating California’s open meeting laws.

Public Participation and Engagement

The Board of Education recognizes the importance of public participation in its decision-making processes. The board provides opportunities for the public to address them on agenda items and other matters within the board's jurisdiction. The Board shall give members of the public an opportunity to address the Board on any item of interest to the public that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board, either before or during the Board's consideration of the item. At a time so designated on the agenda at a regular meeting, members of the public may bring before the Board matters that are not listed on the agenda.

The Board of Education as a Political Stepping Stone

The Board of Education has been seen as a political stepping stone, in particular to the San Francisco Board of Supervisor. Emily M., Daniel P.

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