Name: S.F. school board approves plan with labor unions to reopen classrooms
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S.F. school board approves plan with labor unions to reopen classrooms

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San Francisco school officials unanimously approved a health and safety agreement with labor unions allowing the reopening of schools before the end of the academic year.The deal, approved during Tuesday’s school board meeting, is the first major hurdle in bringing the first students back into classrooms for in-person learning, although the unions and district are still at odds over what the school day will look like when classrooms reopen.Any return to in-person instruction — which is not a certainty — is likely at least two months off.The district and board have faced increased pressure from parents and city officials to reopen schools — including and — and continue to face several hurdles before returning students to the classroom. They’re now struggling to reach an agreement with teachers union officials, who have expressed both concern over learning loss as well as possible outbreaks among staff and in the community when students return.A key component of the agreement approved Tuesday allows a return to classrooms once the city reaches the red tier, the second most restrictive level of California’s reopening blueprint, if coronavirus vaccinations are made available to on-site school staff. San Francisco is expected to reach the red tier within the next week.If the city progresses to the orange tier, a less restrictive category with “moderate” virus spread, teachers and other staff would return without demanding vaccinations.The question now is what the school day will look like when schools reopen. The daily schedule for students and teachers is still pending, requiring an agreement between the district and teachers union. While bargaining continues over those issues, labor leaders and district officials expressed frustration at the ongoing talks over disagreements on how often students would be in classrooms.District officials touted a proposal at a Tuesday news conference — before the board meeting — for the youngest students.Superintendent Vince Matthews detailed the district’s reopening proposal for children in transitional kindergarten through second grade, including students with disabilities, highlighting that the district is fighting for longer hours and days than the teachers’ union.Reopening SchoolsThe district wants five hours a day, five days a week at schools with low demand for a return to in-person learning, and for pre-K and special education students. In those cases, children would be in school for 25 hours a week.The superintendent said the union’s proposal would provide just 12 hours of in-person instruction at those schools, with three hours a day for four days each week, and one day of distance learning.Under the union’s plan, “students and families would also spend much of the day transitioning” from home to school and back, Matthews said.“We don’t want to just offer half days,” he added. “We want to offer consistency.”In response, the United Educators of San Francisco issued a statement that did not directly address the difference between the proposals but said that after five days at the bargaining table arguing about how to reopen the schools before June, the union wants to bring in outside help.“At this point, we believe there needs to be a trusted mediator to intervene, as we have lost confidence in the Superintendent to manage this process,” Susan Solomon, the union’s president, said.Solomon said teachers believe the “most equitable and workable” schedule is for students to attend school “at least four days a week, even if they are half days and that families who choose not to return won’t be left out.”The statement added that students should remain with the same teacher they’ve had all year.Several teachers spoke during public comment Tuesday, saying it’s imperative students remain with their current teacher given the importance of relationships already built during a tumultuous time.“I’m urging the board to trust and value educators,” said teacher Betty Estrada.The district’s hard push for its plan was the latest in an escalating battle over reopening schools. City Attorney Dennis Herrera, with backing from Mayor London Breed, sued the district in early February,Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.Both the district’s and union’s plans require students to sit 6 feet apart, meaning that only 14 students could be in a single classroom.Both plans divide elementary schools into two categories: those with more requests for in-person instruction and those with fewer requests.Matthews said that more than 80% of schools would likely be able to stick to the 14-person limit.Under the district’s plan, children at schools with more requests for in-person instruction would attend class twice a week all day, and learn at home on the three other days. In all, there would be 16 hours of live instruction each week, Matthews said.By contrast, he said the union’s proposal for the same schools would provide 14 hours of live instruction with four half-days in the classroom each week. Children would be at home doing distance learning once a week.District officials said during a reopening update before the school board that there is still no date set to bring students back given uncertainty about vaccines and when the city will enter the red or orange tier.In addition, all elementary schools must be cleared by the Public Health Department for reopening yet only six of 64 elementary schools have completed applications for in-person instruction.There are no plans to bring back middle and high school students.Matthews said the district has heard from many families that are eager for more information, and school officials are trying to provide that.“I know many families are anxiously awaiting clarity,” he said.Nanette Asimov and Jill Tucker are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: Twitter:Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

San Francisco school officials unanimously approved a health and safety agreement with labor unions allowing the reopening of schools before the end of the academic year.The deal, approved during Tuesday’s school board meeting, is the first major hurdle in bringing the first students back into classrooms for in-person learning, although the unions and district are still at odds over what the school day will look like when classrooms reopen.Any return to in-person instruction — which is not a certainty — is likely at least two months off.The district and board have faced increased pressure...

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Nanette Asimov

Jill Tucker knows the rules of tether ball and sort of gets why one might need to solve for X and so she is the k-12 education writer at the SF Chronicle.

Jill Tucker

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S.F. school board approves plan with labor unions to reopen classrooms

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