June 17, 2020 - Staff Digest

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Dear SFUSD Staff:

As I shared in this letter last week, we are gathering input and working diligently to create plans that incorporate health guidance, our district’s priorities and values and the input of our diverse community of staff, students and families in order to plan for the upcoming school year and beyond. 

Several work groups have been formed with representatives from organizations representing staff, student and family perspectives. Community partners and district staff are working together to plan a series of virtual Town Halls in the next few weeks and will be sharing dates shortly. Staff surveys regarding spring and fall 2020 are coming back to us and a family survey will be shared in the coming weeks as well. 

SFUSD representatives are meeting regularly with the Department of Public Health and other City agencies to consider multiple factors related to fall planning. We will continue to update you on our progress and opportunities for input. 

Learn more about the SFUSD budget and share input 

Schools were facing severe funding challenges and struggling to balance budgets prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Those same funding challenges remain, and they are only becoming more severe. The pandemic has brought about millions of new unanticipated costs for SFUSD. 

For the first time in many years, SFUSD no longer has a fund balance. We are looking to identify immediate and ongoing ways to balance our budget. Each year, through a community input process, the district develops a plan (called the LCAP) and then my staff and I develop a budget proposal based on the plan and the amount of funding SFUSD can expect from the state and other sources. Our Board of Education reviews the proposal, and ultimately decides whether or not to approve or amend it. 

The SFUSD Budget and LCAP as well as upcoming Board of Education meetings are posted on the website and we welcome your comments.  

The School Health Programs Resource Guide provides a list of resources available from our city and community based organization partners around academics, health, employment, childcare and more.

Over the summer, SFUSD middle and high school students are using 3D printing technology from their homes to create personal protective equipment (PPE) and other devices to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about the inspiring work of these students and their teachers!

Warm regards,
Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews