On October 9, Ann Xu, a candidate for the San Francisco Board of Education and a former board member, raised concerns about the recent closures of several schools, particularly those affecting neighborhoods with significant Asian American populations. Xu highlighted that out of the numerous schools that have been shut down, three are located in Chinatown and surrounding areas, disproportionately impacting Chinese American students. Though Asian students make up only 25% of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), Xu urged that the district’s consolidation plans should take into account the social and cultural values these schools represent, rather than relying solely on data as a measure of effectiveness.
She emphasized that many of the affected schools serve not just as educational institutions but also as vital social and support networks for families and communities. The severing of these networks could pose additional challenges to already marginalized minority communities.
Xu questioned whether closing schools truly addresses the underlying issues. She stated that while the intention behind the SFUSD’s plan is to improve facility utilization rates—aiming for a target of 90%—current projections suggest that even if all the schools on the closure list were to shut down, the utilization rate would only reach about 80%. This indicates that simply closing schools won’t resolve the district’s financial struggles.
Community members have expressed concerns that the school closure and consolidation plan could lead to families choosing to relocate or switch to private schools, further decreasing public school enrollment and creating a detrimental cycle for the district.
