Community Oversight on the Line: A Call for Action on PEEF Accountability

Parents for Public Schools of San Franciso receives many parent cares and questions about both systematic and school-based issues. Considering the need for budget transparency, we are sharing a letter sent to the PPS Newsroom under this Did you know? . 

 Dear SFUSD Commissioners and Assistant Superintendents: 

SFUSD receives nearly $100 million annually from the Public Education Enrichment Fund. 

Although the PEEF legislation requires community involvement through a CAC (Community Advisory Council), that community oversight does not currently exist. Only five of 24 positions on the CAC are currently filled.  All of you should recognize that as an extremely poor outcome. 

Five Commissioners and the Assistant Superintendents of Elementary, Middle and High Schools appear not to have made any effort toward meeting this responsibility. 

That there are so many vacancies on the PEEF CAC suggests either a deliberate effort to eliminate community participation and oversight or simply an indifference to such involvement.  Either way, that is inconsistent with your stated commitment to oversight and transparency. 

I would like assurance that you are committed to accountability, transparency, and students.  Such assurance requires that you make credible efforts to fill the 19 vacancies on the PEEF CAC so that the group can meet regularly and do its work. 

 Last November, voters passed Proposition J, a Charter amendment changing how the city evaluates funding for services to children, youth, and their families - including PEEF.  Supervisor Myrna Melgar authored the ballot measure and is copied on this email.  If the Community Advisory Council is unable to meet, the city's evaluation will necessarily ignore their ideas, input, concerns, and oversight.   
 I look forward to a prompt response outlining your timeline for achieving full membership on the PEEF CAC. 

Sincerely, 

Scott Bravmann, Ph.D.