Board declines to approve SFUSD Virtual Academy resolution amid fiscal and process concerns
April 26, 2022 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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The San Francisco Board of Education voted on April 26 to reject a resolution that would have created a TK–8 SFUSD Virtual Academy and authorized staff to apply for a California Department of Education (CDE) school code.
Deputy Superintendent Anikia Fort Worthale presented the proposal and said staff aimed to formalize the district’s existing online learning programs and secure a CDS code so the virtual school could enroll students for the 2022–23 school year. She said the district projected roughly 500 students and that the CDS code process requires application materials by May 2.
Several commissioners said the proposal arrived too quickly for the board to evaluate trade-offs. Commissioner Hsu and Commissioner Alexander asked for a detailed multi‑year budget analysis and clarity on how the district would avoid creating a structural deficit once one‑time federal ESSER funds expire. Commissioner Wiseman Ward said she was uncomfortable establishing a new school while the district faces staffing instability and unresolved payroll issues.
Staff and the district’s budget lead said initial planning assumes use of ESSER learning recovery funds to cover early-year costs and that the CDS code, if granted, could be held up to two years before the district had to open the school. Staff also told the board the virtual school could reduce duplication that currently occurs when students are dual‑enrolled in home schools and online programs, but they acknowledged uncertainty about whether new enrollments would increase total district ADA (average daily attendance).
The board conducted a roll‑call vote. Commissioners Alexander, Hsu, Metamidi and Wiseman Ward voted no; Vice President Bogus and President Lam voted yes. The resolution failed on the floor.
The outcome leaves the district’s online learning options in their current form: students remain primarily enrolled in their brick‑and‑mortar home schools with program options administered centrally. Staff said they will return with further fiscal analysis and stakeholder engagement if the board asks for additional work on a future proposal.
The discussion prompted two recurring requests from multiple commissioners: more robust budget versus actuals reporting for programs funded across multiple revenue sources and clearer committee review before substantive special‑order items are brought to the full board.
The board moved next to remaining agenda items and later recessed to closed session.
Deputy Superintendent Anikia Fort Worthale presented the proposal and said staff aimed to formalize the district’s existing online learning programs and secure a CDS code so the virtual school could enroll students for the 2022–23 school year. She said the district projected roughly 500 students and that the CDS code process requires application materials by May 2.
Several commissioners said the proposal arrived too quickly for the board to evaluate trade-offs. Commissioner Hsu and Commissioner Alexander asked for a detailed multi‑year budget analysis and clarity on how the district would avoid creating a structural deficit once one‑time federal ESSER funds expire. Commissioner Wiseman Ward said she was uncomfortable establishing a new school while the district faces staffing instability and unresolved payroll issues.
Staff and the district’s budget lead said initial planning assumes use of ESSER learning recovery funds to cover early-year costs and that the CDS code, if granted, could be held up to two years before the district had to open the school. Staff also told the board the virtual school could reduce duplication that currently occurs when students are dual‑enrolled in home schools and online programs, but they acknowledged uncertainty about whether new enrollments would increase total district ADA (average daily attendance).
The board conducted a roll‑call vote. Commissioners Alexander, Hsu, Metamidi and Wiseman Ward voted no; Vice President Bogus and President Lam voted yes. The resolution failed on the floor.
The outcome leaves the district’s online learning options in their current form: students remain primarily enrolled in their brick‑and‑mortar home schools with program options administered centrally. Staff said they will return with further fiscal analysis and stakeholder engagement if the board asks for additional work on a future proposal.
The discussion prompted two recurring requests from multiple commissioners: more robust budget versus actuals reporting for programs funded across multiple revenue sources and clearer committee review before substantive special‑order items are brought to the full board.
The board moved next to remaining agenda items and later recessed to closed session.
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