Introduction
Background
The Board of Education established the District Advisory Committee (DAC) in November 2023 to 1) provide feedback on proposals to match resources to student outcomes, 2) consider the implications of proposals on the community, and 3) consider the big picture and tradeoffs associated with major decisions.
The DAC had 11 members who represented important viewpoints, including labor, families, and community members. From November through May, DAC members met 13 times to develop their feedback and recommendations. All meetings were open to the public and included a public comment period.
The committee considered multiple factors that might affect the creation of a new portfolio of schools. In June 2024, the DAC submitted its recommended changes to the District’s criteria used to determine which schools will be affected by closures, mergers, and co-locations. Shortly after, the District responded to the DAC recommendations (English, Spanish, Chinese).
SFUSD District Advisory Committee Meeting Documents 2023-24
| DATE | KEY TOPICS | AGENDA | SLIDES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/27/2023 | Gather feedback on potential school staffing models | Agenda | Slides | Notes |
| 12/11/2023 | Gather feedback on potential school staffing models | Agenda | Slides | Notes |
| 1/8/2024 | Gather feedback on proposed real estate strategy | Agenda | Slides | Notes |
| 1/22/2024 | Develop familiarity with the current high school portfolio and develop questions to guide future portfolio discussions. | Agenda | Slides | Notes |
| 2/5/2024 | Learn about the high school vision and investments, and develop shared takeaways about the constraints on our vision. | Agenda | Slides | Notes |
| 2/26/24 | Learn about the middle school vision and investments, and review Middle School Fact Base | Agenda | Slides | Notes |
| 3/4/24 | Learn about the K-8 vision and investments, and review the K-8 Fact Base | Agenda | Slides | Notes |
| 3/18/24 | Central Office reorganization proposal | Agenda | Slides | |
| 4/1/24 | Learn about the elementary vision and investments, review Elementary School Fact Base | Agenda | Slides | |
| 4/22/24 | Learn about programs, including Language Pathways and Special Education
NOTE: This meeting will be held virtually. Please click here to join the Zoom webinar: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/89482601002 | Agenda | Slides | |
| 5/6/24 | Proposed Criteria for Mergers, Closures, and Co-Locations, Part 1 NOTE: This meeting will be in-person at 555 Franklin St. | Agenda | ||
| 5/13/24 | Proposed Criteria for Mergers, Closures, and Co-Locations, Part 2 NOTE: This meeting will be held virtually. Please click here to join the Zoom webinar: https://sfusd.zoom.us/j/86523582600 | Agenda | Slides | |
| 5/20/24 | Proposed Criteria for Mergers, Closures, and Co-Locations, Part 3 NOTE: This meeting will be in-person at 555 Franklin St. | Agenda | Notes |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please see SFUSD's responses to frequently asked questions regarding the District Advisory Committee (DAC).
What is the purpose of the District Advisory Committee?
The District Advisory Committee will deliberate and provide public feedback on each of the proposals for resource alignment. The Committee will meet on an at least monthly basis. A District Advisory Committee does not have authority to close schools. The District Advisory Committee will present the proposals to the Board of Education to take action.
Who are the members of the District Advisory Committee (DAC)?
The DAC will consist of 11 members that represent the diversity of the district’s community, including parents/guardians, students, teachers, administrators, community organization partners to SFUSD, labor partners, land use experts, business community members, and neighborhood association or other affiliations representing landowners and/or renter interests.
What is the selection process for the District Advisory Committee (DAC)?
The district will convene an Appointments Committee to review applications and recommend them to the Board of Education. The committee will consist of SF Board of Education leadership, Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne, and up to two additional Commissioners to be chosen by the Board President. (Per Board Policy 9140, “the President may appoint any Board member to serve as the Board’s representative on a District committee.”)
How can the community share their input other than DAC? How do I participate?
The district will engage in a meaningful consultative process with the community that includes: (a) a lead committee that represents various constituents and develops recommendations with staff about major decisions; (b) direct engagement with labor partners, particularly when the decision is subject to bargaining; (c) broader opportunities for families. staff, and community members to share their perspectives on a decision (e.g. surveys, town halls or other forums) and (e) connections with specific constituents based on the decision topic (e.g. City and County of San Francisco or Community Based Organizations)
The DAC Members
| Name | DAC Seat |
|---|---|
| Geri Almanza | Labor |
| Tai-Sun Schoeman | Labor |
| Sarah Wilson | Labor |
| Camille Seiberling | Business |
| Edward Parillon | Land Use |
| Karen Rolph Morales | Neighborhood, Owner or Renter |
| Asipesionau Finau | Parent |
| Teddy Gomes | Parent |
| Orlando Leon | Parent |
| Debby Lu | Parent |
| Mauricha Robinson | CBO |
| Linda Ho | Alternate |
Community Engagement Opportunities
The district will engage in a meaningful consultative process with the community that includes:
- A lead committee that represents various constituents and develops recommendations with staff about major decisions (e.g. a District Advisory Committee )
- Direct engagement with labor partners, particularly when the decision is subject to bargaining
- Engagement with schools through School Site Councils, school teams, or other forums
- Broader opportunities for families, staff, and community members to share their perspectives on a decision (e.g. through surveys, town halls, or other forums)
- Connections with specific constituents based on the decision topic (e.g. City and County of San Francisco or Community Based Organizations)
District Advisory Committee (DAC)
In compliance with Section 17388 of California Education Code, SFUSD will form a District Advisory Committee (DAC) in order to consider solutions to address declining enrollment, including but not limited to possible school closures or how to best utilize unused facilities space. Section 17388 of California Education Code requires districts to “have the community involved before decisions are made about school closure or the use of surplus space, thus avoiding community conflict and assuring building use that is compatible with the community’s needs and desires.” Section 17388 specifies that the committee shall consist of between seven and 11 members, representing the ethnic, age group, and socioeconomic composition of the district, as well as: “the business community, landowners or renters, teachers, administrators, parents of students, and persons with expertise in environmental impact, building codes, and land use planning…"
The district will exhaust every possible option before pursuing school closures to address the dire realities of declining student enrollment, and SFUSD is committed to ensuring robust community engagement before decisions are made.
District Advisory Committee Materials
A previous version of this webpage noted direct outreach to School Site Councils as part of the first phase of community engagement. We apologize that this was incorrectly added to the website. School Site Council members with questions about or input on the RAI should submit a ticket through Resource Link or speak with their principal.
Proceed to the next section: Weekly Updates
This page was last updated on September 13, 2024