A proposal to cut funding for sports activities, libraries, arts, and music within the San Francisco Unified School District is working its method by means of the city forms, and it should be stopped in its tracks.
When I first learn this proposal, I used to be astonished. Are you kidding me? You need to remove the funding assure for packages the group overwhelmingly voted to assist?
This proposal is unintended penalties on steroids.
Let me clarify:
The city funds the college district by means of the voter-approved Public Education Enrichment Fund (PEEF). The fund pays for three issues:
– One-third goes to the City of San Francisco’s Office of Early Care and Education for preschool assist.
– One-third pays for Sports, Libraries, Arts, and Music (SLAM).
– One third goes for Other General Uses (OGU) packages that promote common training functions.
The portion of the cash SFUSD will get for SLAM should be used for this particular objective. “Must” means “Must.”
What’s proposed: San Francisco Charter Reform Working Group for Education needs to erase “must” and present “flexibility” in order that this cash can primarily be used for virtually something.
What’s the consequence: Duh. Cut funding for sports activities, libraries, arts, and music.
We’ve been right here earlier than. When my youngsters have been in elementary faculty, dad and mom had to attain deep into their pockets to pay for arts, music, librarians, and sports activities.
Education budgets have been tight. The first issues cut from faculty budgets have been these exact packages. It was unfair and inequitable. All colleges should present these. It mustn’t rely on whether or not the scholars’ households have the funds for to pay for them.
Parents know that these companies are important, not frills to be deserted in powerful financial instances.
Working with a number of city supervisors, particularly Tom Ammiano and Mable Tang, I helped write the supply in PEEF that ensures funding for arts, music, librarians, and sports activities. We have been very intentional. The cash should be used for these specified functions.
That PEEF guarantee solved the issue. Arts, music, librarians, and sports activities are funded in colleges all through San Francisco.
This funding assure provides San Francisco a aggressive benefit. Throughout the state, there’s a scarcity of academics certified to educate these packages. Teachers need a dedication that there will likely be funding every year. SFUSD presently could make that promise. Most different faculty districts can’t.
San Francisco is but once more going by means of powerful financial instances.. Through the knowledge of the voters, youngsters are assured to have arts, music, librarians, and sports activities.
Let’s maintain that promise. Let’s not flip our backs on youngsters.
Take motion
– Send public feedback despatched to [email protected] . They will likely be shared with the Controller’s Office, the Mayor’s Office, and Supervisor Mandelman’s Office.
The message is straightforward:
Continue to assure funding for arts, music, libraries, and sports activities in SFUSD. Attach a hyperlink to this text.
– Call your supervisor with the identical message.
– Call the board of education with the identical message.
Upcoming calendar
March 4, 2026 Charter Reform Working Group Meeting
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 3 p.m.
How to take part in-person:
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 201
San Francisco 94102