Don’t Be Gaslit on School Closures

At the Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Matt Wayne will give a presentation on “resource alignment.” Board procedures now require that a draft agenda be published 12 days prior. The draft agenda, posted on August 18, stated the Board would be voting to authorize a District Advisory Committee, which is the first step in closing schools and disposing of the real estate. When the final agenda was published on August 25, the voting item was changed to a discussion item.

We compared both versions of the presentation and share the changes we found here, as well as some slides we found worthy of commentary. Click on each slide for full captions.

Removes mention of action

The third slide in each version of the presentation.

In the draft, a fifth arrow includes text, “BOE directs Superintendent to develop bold, actionable proposals to stabilize SFUSD and to convene a DAC to deliberate and provide feedback on staff’s proposals prior to BOE’s consideration”

In the final version, the fifth arrow referencing BOE Action (that is, a voting item) has been removed

Core Resources Definitions Removed

This meeting is about “resource alignment” and yet this slide, which defines SFUSD’s core resources, was removed from the final version of the presentation

Enrollment will decline... but will it?

In March, the district said that new housing being planned in San Francisco will bring 5,000 new students. In addition, TK expansion and increases in immigrant populations will continue bringing new groups of kids.

Moving the goalposts?

In the final version of this slide, the marker for “70% proficiency” was moved and a reference to ELA was added

Data without Labels

In both versions, this chart has no labels. That’s simply bad data.

Teachers Leave Because You Don't Pay Them

That sounds like a you problem.

More Kids Live on the East Side - Better Close Those Schools

The suggestion here is that families don’t want to attend schools in their own neighborhood. This slide ignores a century of racism, segregation, understaffing, underinvestment, violence, failed public infrastructure, and enrollment policies that made it impossible for families to be educated closer to home

Won't Somebody Think of the West Side Children

The caption here suggests that it is more important to keep west side schools at capacity by having SE students travel across town, than to close small west side schools and increase capacity in SE schools.

Added slide 1: Guardrail Reminder

One of three slides added to the final presentation. Guardrail #1: In short, Dr. Wayne won’t make unilateral decisions.

Added Slide 2: Meaningful Consultation

Second of 3 added slides. A more broad definition of the public engagement that we all should expect and hold Dr. Wayne accountable for

Added Slide 3: DAC Composition

Third new slide: Who gets to sit on the committee that will decide the fate of our schools. It is extremely significant that this was not originally planned to be discussed.

Action Items Removed

Between the draft and the final versions, this entire plan went from being something the Board had to vote to approve to being something Dr Wayne will just do.

Timeline Now Part of Budget

In the final version, text was added that the final step of the timeline will be “part of the 2024-2025 budget.”