Committee approves sending $1 million Stop School Violence grant to full board amid questions about metrics and sustainability

The Budget and Finance Committee voted to forward an ordinance accepting a $1,000,000 federal Stop School Violence grant for the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) to the full Board of Supervisors. Jasmine Dawson, deputy director for City and Community Partnerships at DCYF, outlined that funds will support expansion of the San Francisco School Crisis Support Coordination Project, training for school staff and community‑based organizations, specialized training for probation officers, and hiring school support staff and violence interrupters.

Supervisors pressed DCYF for clearer metrics, sustainability plans beyond the grant’s September 30, 2024 end date, and specifics on who will hire and deploy interrupters. DCYF said the project began two years ago without funding and that grant dollars will expand existing coordination and support; Heidi Burbage and other staff said the department plans to build evaluation metrics and report back as those measures are developed. DCYF clarified that community‑based organizations — not the City and County directly nor SFUSD — will hire many of the school violence interrupters who will be placed on campuses in coordination with SFUSD and juvenile probation.

Public comment included callers urging more resources for elementary schools and skepticism that $1 million is sufficient to address citywide needs. Supervisors Safai and Mendelmann asked to be added as cosponsors and Chair Chan moved the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the motion passed.