San Francisco (May 10, 2022) - After issuing more than 200 preliminary layoff notices in March, the San Francisco Board of Education is now scheduled to vote on a resolution to lay off 20 certificated employees – 15 of whom are administrators who have been or will be rehired for next school year into administrator or certificated positions. This means that a total of only five certificated employees have not found new employment with SFUSD for next school year. If vacancies emerge in those credential areas, those employees will have an opportunity to be rehired.

“The layoff process is extremely stressful for everyone, especially those who received a preliminary notice or an actual layoff notice. It’s an unfortunate reality that in light of declining enrollment, a structural budget deficit, and an ever-changing outlook related to vacancies, we needed to issue so many preliminary layoff notices. We are very happy that at this point in the process, we are down to so few certificated layoffs,” said Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews.  

Per the California Education Code, the district is required to send out notices of layoff on or before March 15, 2022 for certain employee groups, including teachers. These notices, which reflected 212 credential positions in March, were preliminary and the majority of employees who received a notice are not being laid off. 

To meet its fiscal obligations, the district determined it was necessary to reduce or discontinue certain kinds of services within the district at the end of the 2021-22 school year. As a result of this reduction or discontinuation in particular kinds of services, some certificated district employees have had to move into different roles or locations. 

Final notice of employee layoffs or administrative reassignments must be given by May 15 for teachers and June 30 for administrative reassignments and layoffs. SFUSD was able to place almost all consolidated staff into vacancies. The remaining five certificated teaching positions represent four JROTC teachers and one Japanese world language teacher for whom SFUSD doesn’t have positions. 

SFUSD is experiencing a structural deficit –– even before the pandemic the district’s expenditures exceeded its revenue. Contributing factors include decreased student enrollment, which deepens the deficit due to revenue loss; and rising financial obligations associated with staff pensions, among other expenses. 

On December 14, 2021, the SF Board of Education adopted a multi-year budget balancing plan which includes significant reductions in its workforce. Failure to faithfully implement that budget balancing plan could result in a negative fiscal certification and ultimately in substantial loss of local control over the district’s educational programs and priorities.

In addressing the budget forecast, SFUSD has sought to soften the impact on schools, including making reductions to Central administration in the last few years and seeking additional funding sources.

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