Staffing Our Schools

Dear SFUSD Community,

I am writing to explain upcoming staffing decisions and required preliminary layoff notices.

SFUSD’s funding depends on how many students we serve. Over the past five years, enrollment has dropped by 6%. We may have even fewer students next year. Final numbers will be confirmed in March, but we must plan now using current estimates. We cannot keep staffing at past levels if we are serving fewer students.

As part of our financial recovery and efforts to exit state oversight, we have improved our “position control” system. This system helps us decide how many staff each school receives based on enrollment and funding. We are also allocating staff and school discretionary funds based on key equity metrics such as the number of focal students in each school. We need to make sure that staffing will meet the needs of our students and school community. 

Because enrollment is declining and some temporary funds are ending, some positions may be reduced. Some of these positions are already vacant. If a position is proposed for elimination, it does not automatically mean someone will lose their job. Some employees may be able to move into open positions.

State law requires us to send preliminary layoff notices by March 15 based on projected need. These notices are not final. Final decisions will be made in May after enrollment and budget numbers are confirmed.

We are also creating a plan to pay for the tentative agreement with UESF. That plan will be shared in March and will depend on final enrollment numbers, other labor agreements, and updates to the state budget.

We have made progress in improving our finances, but we still face a budget deficit. We will continue making careful decisions to protect classrooms, support educators, and keep our district financially stable.

Please continue reading below for additional information based on frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Sincerely,

Dr. Maria Su

SFUSD Superintendent

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are staffing reductions being considered?

SFUSD’s funding is directly tied to student enrollment. In 2020-2021, 52,000 students were enrolled in SFUSD. Currently, our enrollment is 48,600, which is 6% lower than it was five years ago. Our projections indicate potential further declines, and will be available later this month. Staffing levels must align with the number of students we serve and the funding available.

What is “position control”?

Position control is the system used to determine how many staff positions each school is allocated based on enrollment and funding.

Historically, the District has not had a clear system, which led to unbalanced staffing across schools and a lack of accountability over staffing decisions. With a strong position control system, we can set the number of classrooms and staff we have in each school based on our student enrollment. We can also determine how to effectively manage positions resourced by funding that are time-bound or meant for specific uses. These important controls enable us to reduce the number of vacancies in our system so that we are using a more accurate projection of our staffing according to our student enrollment.

We have strengthened this system to ensure staffing is consistent, sustainable, and aligned with student needs.

Does a preliminary layoff notice mean an employee is losing their job?

No. A preliminary notice does not automatically result in a layoff. It is required by state law and is based on projected need. Final decisions are made in May after enrollment and budget information are confirmed. In some cases, employees may be able to move into existing vacancies.

Why issue notices now if final decisions aren’t made until May?

State law requires districts to issue preliminary layoff notices by March 15. This allows districts to plan responsibly while waiting for final enrollment and budget data.

How does this relate to state oversight?

As part of our fiscal recovery efforts and path to exiting state oversight, we are ensuring that staffing levels are accurate, sustainable, and fiscally responsible.

How will the district fund the tentative agreement with UESF?

We are developing a formal funding plan that will be submitted in March. Our ongoing efforts to modernize our fiscal systems and leverage one-time funds, such as those set aside in our reserve funds, can help us afford these benefits to our educators in the near-term. But several factors are still in flux that impact our budget. We are still in active labor negotiations with several other labor units, we are finalizing our enrollment numbers, and are also awaiting the Governor’s final proposed state budget to be released in May.

The plan must account for final enrollment numbers, ongoing labor negotiations, and the Governor’s May Revision of the state budget.

What is the district’s overall financial outlook?

While we have made significant progress in stabilizing our finances, a structural deficit remains. Continued responsible decision-making is necessary to protect classrooms and ensure long-term fiscal stability.