Mayor Lurie’s Statement on the Reopening of Public Schools

“I am grateful that our educators and school district have reached a tentative agreement, allowing our public school students to return to the classroom. I want to thank UESF President Cassondra Curiel, Superintendent Dr. Maria Su, and their entire bargaining teams.

“I know how deeply everyone cares about our students and educators. We all share a commitment to providing an excellent education to every single SFUSD student. And as San Francisco becomes increasingly out of reach for so many, we all understand that it is absolutely essential that our educators and their families feel truly supported. We should all be proud of how we’ve done that in this agreement.

“For days, at all hours, my team and I have been at War Memorial and in constant communication with the union and the district. We brought in experts to help the parties identify creative ways to reach an agreement that supports teachers while keeping the school district on the path to fiscal stability. Steve Kawa, Carol Isen, Greg Wagner, Staci Slaughter, Kunal Modi, and Han Zou — I want to thank them for their invaluable contributions to this process.

“I also want to thank our city’s community-based organizations, cultural institutions, and our city departments who stepped in to support our kids and families. That includes DCYF, Rec and Park, the Public Library, the Department of Early Childhood, and SFPD. While schools were closed, they handed out thousands of meals for students who rely on school for access to food, extended hours for childcare, and kept our kids safe. From the Mission and the Tenderloin to the Sunset and Ingleside, I saw firsthand how city employees and community-based organization staff cared for thousands of our kids. Thank you.

“Our kids deserve schools where they can thrive, with educators who have the tools and support they need to best serve our kids. And all of our families deserve a fiscally stable school district that will be able to do the same for generations to come. This agreement is evidence that when we work together, we can all get closer to that goal.”