As a potential district-wide teacher strike approaches, San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su has been granted emergency powers to address the situation. With a strike possibly beginning as soon as March 4, 2024, the superintendent is taking proactive steps to prepare for school closures.
Emergency Resolution Approved by School Board
During a special school board meeting on Tuesday night, Su requested the board’s approval for an emergency resolution. This resolution, passed by a narrow 4-3 vote, allows her to make essential operational decisions if teachers decide to walk out. The powers include hiring additional security staff, arranging transportation, and coordinating food and emergency services for affected schools.
Notably, the board added a last-minute adjustment, limiting Su’s ability to hire substitute teachers on a pay-per-day basis. Any substitutes brought in must already hold a current contract. Should the strike occur, the resolution gives Su the authority to close schools indefinitely if essential staffing is unavailable.
Commissioners Matt Alexander, Alida Fisher, and student delegate Shoon Mon of Lowell High School voted against the resolution. Should teachers strike, any staff members continuing to work would face the risk of crossing a picket line.
Implications of a Teacher Strike
In the event of a strike, the principals’ union—representing approximately 297 principals and administrators—will vote on whether to conduct a sympathy strike. If both teachers and principals choose to walk out, it remains uncertain how the district would keep schools operational. Su emphasized her commitment to “protect the welfare and safety of students, staff, and district property.”
The ongoing labor negotiations between the district and the teachers’ union have reached an impasse. A fact-finding report from a neutral third party is anticipated soon, which may provide recommendations, though it will not be binding. This report could enable teachers to strike within 48 hours if no agreement is reached.
Su described the negotiations as “good” and indicated the district is “really close” to a resolution. Last week, the district claimed to have proposed a “stability package,” which includes a 6 percent salary raise for teachers over three years along with fully paid family health benefits. However, the teachers’ union countered this narrative, asserting they had not received such an offer.
If schools close due to the anticipated strike, the district could lose between $7 million to $10 million per day, as funding is closely tied to student attendance. Su has been in frequent discussions with Mayor Daniel Lurie regarding the potential strike and its ramifications.
If a strike occurs, it would mark the first teachers’ strike in San Francisco since 1979, when educators conducted a six-week walkout. Su expressed her desire to resolve the situation, stating, “I will do everything I can to make sure we come back to the table. I have no desire to enact this resolution, but in order to be prepared we need to do this.”
