San Francisco, CA
SFUSD school board approves new superintendent in 6-3 vote
SFUSD School Board votes in new superintendent
Maria Su’s appointment to the role was approved in a 6-3 vote on Tuesday night, but not all parents and board members were happy with the choice. KTVU’s Tori Gaines reports from San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco schools officially have a new superintendent. Maria Su was voted into the role at a San Francisco Unified School District Board Meeting in the city Tuesday night.
The vote did not pass unanimously; Commissioners Kevine Boggess and Jenny Lam voted against Su’s appointment along with the student representative on the board.
Some parents tell KTVU they are hopeful that this new leadership will get the district moving in the right direction, while others had several questions about the new choice.
Parents and community members spoke out at the board meeting, and many parents laid out arguments against the recent changes in the district, which could face a takeover from the state if it doesn’t close its $100 million deficit by December.
“No one wants a state takeover. We need to work together to find a solution. Right now, the ends did not justify the means,” said Katrina Tan, the mother of a Spring Valley student said to the board.
Su, the now the former head of San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, does not have the legally- required educational background to fill the role.
“Why do you have to go the extreme limbs of waiving legally required credentials so that you can appoint her?” Luce, a parent of a middle schooler in San Francisco, asked the board.
The board’s general counsel says it is not unusual for a school district to waive the required educational certifications. The board voted 6-3 to allow Su to take the role without the normal educational certifications and background.
Board President Matt Alexander spoke in support of Su’s appointment, saying he was grateful someone with Su’s business acumen and experience running a government agency was willing to step in to help calm the chaos that SF has faced over the years.
Parents expressed frustration at the board’s vote to allow former Superintendent Matt Wayne to resign from his role with a severance package worth over half a million dollars.
“If we claim our district is in debt, how do we justify giving Wayne a $500,000 plus sendoff?” said Juana, a member of the 5 Elements Youth Collective.
Though immediate school closures are off the table for next year, parents still feel they could come in the future.
Su says she’s ready for the challenges ahead.
“There’s been a lot of chaos over the years, and we have not been communicating clearly and in a timely manner about what we are doing and I need to do that,” Su told KTVU.
The families at the meeting on Tuesday are still worried about what changes could come with a potential state takeover. They also expressed frustration at the lack of public input for this decision. However, one board member clarified that superintendent searches are typically confidential.
The board also answered a couple of key questions on Tuesday: firstly, Su will be paid a salary of $320,000 per year, and her contract will last until June 2026. Secondly, if the district does not feel Su is meeting expectations in the role, the district can choose to end her contract without any buyout.
Featured
Maria Su expected to be confirmed as new SFUSD Superintendent
San Francisco’s school board will vote on Tuesday to confirm Maria Su as the district’s new superintendent after Matt Wayne abruptly stepped down Friday. On Monday, she picked up a vote of confidence from the head of California’s Department of Education.
San Francisco, CA
How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Milwaukee Brewers
The San Francisco Giants wrap up this four-game road series against the Milwaukee Brewers this morning.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Adrian Houser, who enters today’s game with a 5.59 ERA, 5.21 FIP, with 35 strikeouts to 21 walks in 56.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, in which he allowed four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks in three and two thirds innings.
He’ll be facing off against Brewers right-handed rookie Coleman Crow, who enters today’s game with a 3.14 ERA, 3.73 FIP, with eight strikeouts to three walks in 14.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Brewers’ 5-4 win over the Houston Astros on Friday, in which he allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits with one strikeout and two walks in four innings.
Who: San Francisco Giants (24-38) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (37-22)
Where: American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco family devastated as they face nearly 90% rent increase
A San Francisco family in the Richmond District is facing a nearly 90% rent increase after the building got new ownership.
Zachary and Ashley Waldman moved into the two-bedroom unit in 2021, knowing they wanted to start a family; their 19-month-old Henry has grown up in the unit and goes to daycare nearby, which is subsidized. Ashley says they feel safe and comfortable.
Last Friday, the family received a notice on their door, letting them know that their rent would go up to $7,000 in September.
“I could cry right now, I’ve been doing a lot of crying. This is our home, so it’s been really difficult,” Ashley said.
When they first moved in, they said they were paying close to $3,500. Over the last few years, they’ve seen a couple of increases, and they’re now paying nearly $3,700.
But the building recently got new ownership toward the end of May. And this notice states that it’s exempt from certain cities and state laws that provide protections to tenants.
Jocelyn Moran has the full report in the video above.
San Francisco, CA
Retired San Francisco firefighter dies from lung cancer after Blue Shield denies treatment claims
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The retired San Francisco firefighter at the center of a bitter insurance fight has lost his battle against cancer.
Ken Jones passed away Saturday, 14 months after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
PREVIOUS REPORT: City asked to intervene after SF firefighter’s stage 4 lung cancer treatment denied by Blue Shield
We first told you about Jones in January — when the 17-year veteran and supporters asked the City Commission for help.
The Fire Department’s insurance carrier, Blue Shield, denied coverage for some of his recommended treatments.
Ken Jones was 70 years old.
SF firefighters rally for retiree denied cancer treatment by Blue Shield as more come forward
“After we got some publicity, thank you, a Blue Shield physician reached out to Ken’s physician, and they worked out a different plan that Blue Shield would cover. It’s still an incomplete plan,” said Helen Horvath, Jones’ wife when ABC7 Eyewitness News spoke to her in January, 2026.
Since then, Jones’ story has led to an investigation into other cases, with the city’s mayor vowing to support firefighters.
According to San Francisco’s Health Service Board, about 5,000 city employees and retirees are insured by Blue Shield. Now, city leaders are asking anyone who has been denied cancer treatment to speak up.
Tony Stefani with the Cancer Prevention Foundation said firefighters with a cancer diagnosis have a 14% higher chance of dying than other cancer patients in the general population.
“Current statistics tell us that 65% of the men and women in our profession are going to contract some form of cancer in their lifetime. Some of them will be fatal,” Stefani said.
In a Statement Blue Shield said, in part: “For Medicare members, health plans must follow medical policy established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).”
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