SFUSD adopts infectious-disease policy as parents and teachers press for universal testing and paid leave

The San Francisco Board of Education on Sept. 14 adopted a revised infectious-disease board policy intended to update the district’s approach to communicable illnesses.

Daniel Hawk read the proposed policy into the record and the board voted to adopt the revision by roll call (six yes votes; Commissioner Sanchez absent). The vote followed public comment from teachers, parents and union representatives pressing the district for stronger testing and paid-leave protections.

"We cannot know if we have an outbreak of COVID given that COVID can be asymptomatic without regular and consistent universal testing for staff and students," said Chris Klaus, a special-education teacher at Washington High School. Several callers urged SFUSD to adopt regular testing programs similar to those in neighboring districts and private schools.

Rafael Picazo, SEIU 1021 president, asked the district to implement weekly testing and to continue SB 95 leave protections beyond the Sept. 30 expiration by offering up to 680 hours of paid leave for employees who must quarantine.

Why it matters: The policy change formalizes the district’s updated approach to infectious diseases at a time when parents and educators urged more proactive testing and worker protections to keep schools open and safe.

What the board did: After presentations and public comment, commissioners voted to adopt Board Policy 51.41.22 (infectious diseases); the meeting record shows a roll-call tally of six ayes with one absence recorded.

Next steps: The conversation about how to operationalize testing, leave and other mitigations will continue in committee work and in ongoing staff reports; a separate COVID-recovery resolution was referred earlier to budget review and further committee consideration.

This article is based on public comment and staff presentation during the Sept. 14, 2021 SFUSD Board of Education meeting.