February 10, 2021

February 10, 2021

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Dear SFUSD Families:

I want to extend my deepest appreciation to SFUSD families for all the incredible support you are providing your children at this time. I know you are doing your best and I also know you are likely very tired. The task of reopening a large urban public school system is complex but we will get there. 

Please keep reading today’s digest for updates about in-person learning plans, distance learning, and more.

Return Safely Updates

SFUSD continues to plan and prepare to reopen school sites. Here are some current events related to the preparation process. 

  • On February 6, SFUSD and a group of labor unions representing SFUSD employees reached a tentative agreement on the health and safety standards for in-person learning, a critical milestone toward reopening schools. Find answers to some of your questions about this agreement in the “Did You Know” section below. 
  • COVID-19 vaccines are in low supply in San Francisco, and are not yet available to educators and San Francisco remains in the purple tier. The City has said that teachers, day care workers, emergency responders and food and agriculture workers would become eligible for the coronavirus vaccine in San Francisco on Feb. 24, pending adequate supply of vaccines. At this time supplies are limited. 
  • The Return to In-Person Learning Update, presented at the February 9 Board of Education Meeting, includes the latest progress on SFUSD’s efforts to prepare for in-person learning. Learn about:
    • What the instructional plan could look like 
    • Testing and vaccination policies and efforts
    • Facilities and Department of Public Health site inspections
    • Communication resources for students and families  

Distance Learning Updates

Enhancing Distance Learning

As we continue planning for a safe return to in-person learning, SFUSD is also working to enhance the distance learning experience for students and staff. Some of this work includes implementing lessons designed using culturally and historically responsive frameworks; increasing access to Ethnic Studies, Black Studies, and Mastering Cultural Identity courses and lesson planning based on culturally and historically responsive frameworks. We’re offering intervention classes at middle and high schools and supporting more robust coordinated care teams and wraparound services for students. Read more in our latest blog post.

SF Loves Learning

Are you celebrating Lunar New Year? Here you can find Lunar New Year videos to watch with your family!

Check out these Black History Month videos for more ways to celebrate this month! We will add resources throughout February. Would you like to share how you are celebrating Black History Month on SF Loves Learning? Email sfloveslearning@sfusd.edu to share your ideas or submit your video using this submission form.

“What do plants and animals need to survive?” is next week’s theme on SF Loves Learning. Check out these segments that will air next week:

  • Crab Dissection (Read Aloud): Maestra Meza dissects a rock crab to investigate what defenses it has that helps it survive.
  • The Termite Lady (Music): This is a biographical blues song about a African American woman scientist.
  • Benjamin the Brave: A Story About Anxiety (Read Aloud): Author Ameshia Arthur reading part of book “Benjamin the Brave: A Story About Anxiety”
  • Physical Education Oxygen Tabata (Movement): This fitness video helps students practice a tabata. A tabata is a short, high intensity workout that improves cardiorespiratory endurance and muscular strength and endurance of the upper body, lower body, and core.
  • Black History Month: Family Trees (Community): Virginia Marshall shares her family tree in celebration of this year’s Black History Month theme: Celebrating the Diversity of Our Families.

You can search for any content from the show, and plan instruction for next week in three ways:

  • Segments Library: Find any segment (read aloud, daily lesson, music, movement, community)!
  • YouTube channel: Subscribe to this channel, explore the playlists, and receive notifications when new content is published.

SF Loves Learning is now airing every weekday, 8:30-9am on KTVU Plus and any time at sfusd.edu/sfloveslearning.

Did You Know?

SFUSD and labor groups reached a Tentative Agreement regarding baseline health and safety standards

What does the tentative agreement between SFUSD and labor groups address? 

  • On February 6, the group of unions and SFUSD tentatively agreed on baseline health and safety standards. The tentative agreement addresses the health and safety standards necessary for the return of students at all grade levels, preschool through 12, and the parties have agreed to meet and confer on any additional negotiable impacts of the District’s plans for the return of middle and high school students. 

What did the parties tentatively agree to regarding when students can begin to resume learning in person? 

SFUSD and labor groups agreed that students can return when: 

  • San Francisco City and County are in the Red Tier as determined by the California Department of Public Health, and according to California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and all staff reporting to District school or worksites have had the opportunity (eligibility and access) to be vaccinated at the recommended dosage;   OR 
  • San Francisco City and County is in the Orange or any lower Tier, as determined by the California Department of Public Health, regardless of the availability of vaccines.

Does this tentative agreement with labor groups mean SFUSD has completed bargaining as it relates to reopening school sites? 

No, the tentative agreement reached with the group of unions does not address or resolve all the negotiable impacts of the District’s plan for Hybrid Instruction. The District continues to meet with the United Educators of San Francisco and other unions to complete bargaining on the negotiable impacts of hybrid instruction. 

Learn more in this FAQ.

School Meal Updates

Schedule Change Next Week: Pick up Meals Wednesday and Friday

 Reminder: Share Your Thoughts on Meal Pickup Time

Resource Highlight

Zuckerberg San Francisco General (For Residents of ZIP Codes 94110, 94112, and 94107) 

San Francisco is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General’s Learning Center to those who meet ALL of the following requirements:

1) Live in ZIP codes 94110, 94112, or 94107; and

2) Ages 65 and over; and

3) Medi-Cal recipients, Healthy SF recipients or uninsured.

  • Drop in from 9am to 3pm any day of the week at Zuckerberg SF General Learning Center – 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 30 on the 2nd floor (off 23rd Street). You do not need an appointment. Please bring proof of age, residence, and Medi-Cal/HSF card.
  • Flyer in English | Spanish | Chinese | Filipino 

Tech Tips

Support Available for the Multi-Purpose Family Income Form, ParentVUE, and More!

  • You can sign up for a personalized, 30-minute session to walk you through the steps of filling out the Multi-Purpose Family Income form in ParentVUE.
  • If you need to activate your ParentVUE account, you can also receive support with that and with several of our distance learning tools, such as Seesaw, Google Classroom, and more.
  • Sessions are available in multiple languages.

Bright Spot

This spring, 35 SFUSD high school students are learning about food justice and developing job skills through Foodwise Teens, an SFUSD Wellness Policy student project. Learn about how this program has been adapted during the pandemic.

Warm regards,

Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthew

This page was last updated on February 10, 2021