SFUSD board approves tentative agreement to shift mask requirement to strong recommendation

The San Francisco Board of Education on March 8 approved a tentative agreement with district labor unions that will change the district’s indoor masking policy from "required" to "strongly recommended," moving implementation for middle and high schools and district offices earlier than for elementary grades.

Superintendent Dr. Matthews said the agreement, negotiated with IFPTE Local 21, SEIU 1021, UASF and UESF, preserves individuals’ ability to continue masking and emphasizes that the district will distribute rapid home test kits to all students and staff before spring break. "We have a supply of rapid home test kits that will be distributed to school and central offices beginning at the end of this week," Matthews said; "each student and San Francisco Unified School District staff member has been allocated 2 test kits." (Superintendent Dr. Matthews)

Acting Chief of Labor Relations Daniel Menezes read the recommendation into the record, describing it as "Addendum No. 4 to the memorandum of understanding" between SFUSD and the unions. The agreement transitions the district from a required‑mask policy to a strongly recommended approach and sets dates: March 12 for high schools, middle schools and central offices and April 2 for transitional kindergarten and elementary students, according to district staff.

Public comment before the board was sharply divided. Some callers urged the district to follow public‑health guidance and lift the mandate, while others — particularly parents and disability‑advocacy callers — urged the board to maintain universal masking until the end of the school year to protect immunocompromised students. "Please give them the choice," said a parent with health‑care experience who urged adherence to CDC and state guidance. An immunocompromised parent said the district had not proposed adequate accommodations or a plan for vulnerable families.

Board members discussed both the operational details and the community tensions around the decision. Commissioner Bogus said she planned to support the agreement but asked that the district do more to include diverse family voices in future decisions. Commissioner Alexander highlighted differing lived experiences across neighborhoods and urged compassion for vulnerable residents.

In response to questions from student delegates about enforcement of the testing requirement, district staff said test distribution would be accompanied by translated messaging and flyers about when and how to use kits, but that individual use of tests cannot be enforced: "It is not something that we can enforce," a district communications official said. The tentative agreement does ask families and staff to use tests prior to returning from spring break and to report positive results.

The board recorded a roll‑call vote approving the agreement. Vice President Lam and commissioners who voted in favor characterized the move as aligning the district with public‑health guidance while preserving individual choice and emphasizing testing and communication supports.

The tentative agreement directs staff to implement the communication and test‑distribution plan and to continue outreach about accommodations for medically fragile students; further procedural details and the finalized MOU language will be posted with district records.

The board recessed for a short break after the vote and returned to consider other agenda items.