Liberal-run San Francisco is facing yet another crisis as its school district prepares to slash hundreds of jobs amid a staggering budget shortfall. The financial mismanagement in this Democrat stronghold has now reached the classroom, threatening essential educational services for children.
At a Glance
- San Francisco Unified School District plans to eliminate 837 positions to address a $113 million budget deficit
- Layoffs will affect teachers, social workers, counselors, and 164 teacher’s aides
- The district’s enrollment has plummeted from 61,031 in 2019-20 to 55,592 in 2021-22
- SFUSD received a negative budget certification in May 2024, allowing state fiscal advisors to take control
- Despite the crisis, the liberal school board has been reluctant to cut social services, contributing to the financial disaster
Massive Job Cuts Loom for Liberal Stronghold
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is facing a financial reckoning as it prepares to eliminate 837 positions to address a staggering $113 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 fiscal year. With an additional $13 million in cuts expected the following year, this liberal bastion’s educational system appears to be in free fall following years of fiscal irresponsibility.
Preliminary layoff notices are being prepared for teachers, social workers, counselors, and 164 teacher’s aides.
The Board of Education has already authorized layoff notices for 395 certified positions and approved layoffs for 149 administrators, 43 office workers, and 96 civil service employees. Final decisions about who gets the ax will be made by May 15, contingent on state budget funding.
All this in a Democrat-run city. Are you in the least bit surprised?
Liberal Policies Drive Enrollment Decline
At the heart of the crisis is a dramatic decline in student enrollment that has plagued the district for years. SFUSD’s enrollment has dropped from 61,031 students in 2019-20 to just 55,592 in 2021-22, directly impacting revenue from the California Department of Education. This exodus of over 5,400 students in just two years speaks volumes about public confidence in the district’s management.
“The district has experienced a significant decline in overall enrollment, consistent with statewide trends, and yet we’ve kept staffing levels largely the same. It simply is not sustainable,” Phil Kim said.
Despite the obvious financial warning signs, the district has continued spending beyond its means for years. The situation has become so dire that SFUSD received a negative certification of its budget report in May 2024, indicating serious doubts about its financial sustainability. This certification effectively handed control of the district’s $1.3 billion annual budget to state fiscal advisors who now have veto power over financial decisions.
The district’s financial collapse didn’t happen overnight. For years, expenses have exceeded revenue as the liberal school board refused to make necessary cuts. Despite losing thousands of students, the district has maintained nearly the same staffing levels, with a staggering 80% of its $1.3 billion annual budget allocated to personnel costs.
Superintendent Maria Su acknowledged the gravity of the situation but offered little explanation for how the district allowed itself to reach this breaking point. “These are not easy decisions. I acknowledge that what we’re doing here is impacting people’s livelihoods,” Su admitted, as the consequences of years of financial mismanagement come home to roost.
Predictably, the teachers union is fighting against the necessary cuts. United Educators of San Francisco President Cassondra Curiel called the number of layoff notices “excessive” and blamed a state fiscal adviser for pushing austerity measures. This resistance to fiscal reality is part of what led to the current crisis, as the union-friendly school board repeatedly delayed making necessary adjustments while the financial situation deteriorated.
While the district claims it aims to address its structural deficit and regain local budget control to improve student outcomes, the damage has already been done. Clearly.
