To appoint Su, the board also had to approve that she serve without the regular requirements of a teaching and administrative credential and five years of experience in California schools.
However, the board members, along with California’s state superintendent and local government leaders, have thrown their support behind Su, saying she’s the kind of leader who will meet the district’s tough moment.
“What I can promise to the community, as well as to the school community here, is that I’m going to focus really hard to balance a budget, present a budget that makes sense, that is acceptable to the state of California so that we can continue to maintain and retain our local control,” Su said after the classroom visit.
Parent Hee Seung Kim, who goes by Caroline, poses for a portrait outside of Yick Wo Alternative Elementary School in San Francisco on Oct. 23, 2024. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
She said she’s meeting with the district’s chief business officer on Wednesday and would be looking at the “gaps and deficiencies” in operational systems where changes could be made. Su will also be focused on “re-establishing a relationship” with California Department of Education fiscal advisors, who were assigned to the district in 2022 and given elevated veto power after SFUSD received a negative budget report in March.
Repairing relationships with school communities will also be a top priority.
“We need more clear communication,” Yick Wo’s parent, Hee Seung Kim, said while hanging a “Panda Pride” banner outside the school. “The composite score the last superintendent did was very unclear. If the new superintendent is willing to communicate with parents, that would be great so we can support.”
Whether schools could close or merge in the future — and what schools will look like next year after significant budget cuts — is still unclear.
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
