Announcement Details
Announcement Message
Dear SFUSD Community,
Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and cared for. When students come through our doors, their well-being is our top priority.
This week we have learned about very serious and deeply troubling allegations of sexual abuse towards women and children in the farmworkers movement involving Cesar Chavez. We want to take a moment to acknowledge our community’s collective shock regarding these reports.
Abuse of any kind has absolutely no place in our society. Our hearts break for those who suffered in silence, including civil rights leader Dolores Huerta. Centering survivors and uplifting their courage is a vital part of creating a culture of healing and accountability.
Farmworkers and civil rights movements are a source of inspiration and pride for all of us, especially for our Latinx families and students.
The complexity of this moment is real and we do not want to minimize the range of emotions you and your family may be feeling—concern, anger, sadness, or all of these at once. We share these feelings with you.
If your child needs support processing this news, please reach out to your principal, school social worker, or another trusted adult at school. You can also access these multilingual resources:
- Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media) (Español)
- Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute) (Español)
- Tips for Parents on Media Coverage (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
If you suspect a child is being harmed, contact the San Francisco Family and Children Services (FCS) Hotline at 1-800-856-5553, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you or someone you love has been sexually assaulted or abused, you are not alone - help is available. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (Español) at 1-800-656-4673 or text “HOPE” to 64673.
As districts across the country move forward with conversations about ways to support and center survivors, we will listen deeply and with compassion to understand the impact on our communities and to work together to determine a path forward—one that keeps student safety and sense of belonging at the center of every decision.
Sincerely,
Dr. Maria Su
SFUSD Superintendent
Phil Kim
Board of Education President
Jaime Huling
Board of Education Vice President