Board adopts Multilingual Learner Roadmap, signs off on unaudited 2022–23 actuals and several routine measures

The San Francisco Board of Education on Oct. 10 adopted a Multilingual Learner Roadmap intended to replace the district’s long‑running English learner plan and approved the district’s unaudited 2022–23 actuals, while hearing extended public comment on a forthcoming bond, school restructuring proposals and labor negotiations.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the roadmap after a presentation from Christina Wong, special assistant to the superintendent, who said the policy reframes services with an asset‑based approach and aligns local practice with state and federal requirements. Wong told the board the term “multilingual learners” will be used in local policy to emphasize students’ home languages while the district will continue to report “English learner” for state and federal data requirements. She said the plan covers enrollment and identification, use of the ELPAC (including the alternate ELPAC for students with qualifying IEPs), reclassification procedures and family engagement, and that regulations and implementation guidelines will follow board policy.

Superintendent Wayne and staff stressed that approving the roadmap is the first step; the district will develop measurable goals and regulations, and staff said the internal oversight committee will prioritize monitoring and SMART‑goal development. Commissioner questions focused on how reclassification would work for students with IEPs, translation turnarounds for IEP documents, supports for newcomer families and how the roadmap will align to the district’s literacy and math goals. Wong said many elements of the roadmap build on systems developed under the prior Lao consent decree and that staff will return with regulations and monitoring metrics.

In a separate financial item, Jackie Chen, the district’s financial services officer, presented unaudited 2022–23 actuals showing an overall district ending fund balance of approximately $413,000,000, an improvement of about $8.1 million compared with the district’s June estimated actuals. Chen said recognized revenue for the year was about $50 million lower than estimated because some federal and state one‑time funds were deferred and not fully recognized in 2022–23 (she cited ESSA/competitive grants as examples). Expenditures were also lower—Chen said roughly $60 million—largely because of vacancies and attrition. The board recorded that restricted, committed and assigned portions of the balance include federal/state grants, stabilization funds and reserves for contingencies.

Board members pressed staff about a classified‑salary variance and about the delayed audit for prior years. Staff acknowledged vacancies and deferred revenue timing as contributors to the variance and described ongoing work with auditors: the district said it has requested re‑engagement from its prior auditor to close the 2021–22 audit and is working with a new auditor to complete the 2022–23 engagement. Staff warned that while they are seeking to avoid returning funds, audit work could produce findings that require corrective action and described plans to present audit updates to the board.

During public comment, parents and community groups urged a larger, more accountable bond to address deferred maintenance and air‑quality and food‑service needs; Buena Vista/Hunters Point families asked for written guarantees about the right to return if schools are phased during renovation; and multiple unions pressed the board to complete contract negotiations and enshrine shared governance and community‑schools commitments. NAACP speakers raised concerns about language used in classrooms and the presence of encampments near school sites. Several speakers warned that limited public comment time was constraining community input.

Votes at a glance:
- Stipulated expulsion agreement (student matter 2023‑2024Number5): motion moved and seconded; approved by roll call (affirmative votes recorded; one absence noted during closed session readout). (See closed‑session readout.)
- Minutes for regular meeting 09/12/2023 and special meetings 09/26/2023 and 08/29/2023: approved by roll call.
- Community Advisory Committee for Special Education appointments (5 nominees): approved by roll call.
- Multilingual Learner Roadmap (board policy adoption): motion moved and seconded; adopted by roll call (6 ayes).
- Unaudited actuals 2022–23: motion moved and seconded; approved by roll call (6 ayes).
- Williams Act instructional‑materials resolution (Ed. Code 60119): board determined materials are sufficient districtwide and approved the resolution by roll call (6 ayes).
- Consent calendar: approved by roll call (6 ayes).

The board asked staff to return with regulations, SMART goals and monitoring indicators for the multilingual roadmap and to provide more detail about audit timelines and the anticipated corrective actions if auditors identify material issues. The meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m.