SFUSD Board Reaffirms Sanctuary Status, Elects Leadership as Budget Battles Loom

The San Francisco school board's first meeting of 2026 opened with a moment of silence following a fatal ICE-related shooting—and closed after 10:30 p.m. with families still pleading to protect teachers, counselors, and electives from the budget axe. In between, trustees unanimously re-elected their leadership team and heard a fiscal update that offered modest good news but no relief from the hard choices ahead.

• Board reaffirms sanctuary district commitment after ICE-related fatality.

• Phil Kim elected Board President; Jaime Huling elected Vice President—both unanimously.

• Dozens of students and families pack meeting to oppose staffing cuts and six-period middle school schedule.

• Superintendent announces partial restorations: social workers and security staff preserved; discretionary funds for high-need students increased.

• Finance update: Governor's proposed COLA falls short of expectations; special education funding up modestly; operational reforms advance.

• Closed session: Board directs legal counsel in three litigation matters, including one 6–1 vote.

Board leadership opened the regular session with a moment of silence recognizing a fatal shooting connected to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement action—the latest flashpoint in a national debate over immigration enforcement in schools.