SFUSD had a press conference yesterday from 5-5:30 p.m. with Assemblymember Mark Leno and State Senator Midgen to announce that they were uniting with UESF to fight against the Governor’s cuts on education.

At the Committee of the Whole which was scheduled to begin at 5:30 but didn’t begin till 6:20 p.m., Superintendent Garcia announced that he was asking the Board of Education to freeze all new program funding from the “third third” of Proposition H. Garcia stated that it would be approximately $7 million and the funds would be used to bridge the anticipation shortfall from the state.

The cuts include
-Computer technology
-Pre-K to Third Literacy Initiative
-Violence Prevention Programs
-Language Art and Match Coaches
-Mental Health Services
-Expansion of Wellness Centers (Newcomer and Washington)

Under the Governor’s current plan for proposed cuts for education, SFUSD would lose $20 million for 2008-09.

Vice President Kimshree Maufas announced that testimoney would be limited to one hour. Maufas first took testimony from parents and students who wanted to expand the number of salad bars at SFUSD schools, including students from Miraloma and Balboa.

President Sanchez went on record, stating that he supported salad bars. “We know that when students are eating more healthy, they tend to do better in the classroom.”

Other public testimony asked that the Board of Education used Prop H funds on:

LEP (Limited English) Outreach Person-Two people spoke
Cultural Relevance Professional Development-Three people
Expansion of Peer Resources-9 people
Peer Court-Two people
Superintendent’s Recommend-Two people

Sandi Fewer, parent advocate from Coleman Advocates and Christina Wong of Chinese for Affirmative Action both spoke against using the funds as reserve. Wong pointed out that there is a perception that the Board of Education are not good financial managers and voters may be reluctant to vote for the parcel tax if the District used some of the Prop H money for the anticipated shortfall.

Several members of the public noted that even the legislation that created Prop H required public meetings to discuss ideas for funding, the District never held public meetings to discuss either of the two plans (the Superintendent’s and the Citizen Advisory Committee).

The Board of Education then took another hour to discuss their next steps. They agreed that they would pass the Superintendent’s recommendation to freeze $7 million from Proposition H’s “third third” and ask the BOS to approve the use of the $7 million to bridge some of the district’s anticipated shortfall. The vote will occur on Tuesday, January 22 at their regular board meeting.

The Board of Education will also recommend to create a Plan B, if the May revisions for the state budget show that the SFUSD’s share of the state education fund’s shortfall is less than the anticipated $20 million.