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San Francisco sues own district to open schools

Published:Wednesday | February 3, 2021 | 5:07 PM
In this August 14, 2017, file photo, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera listens to questions during a press conference at City Hall in San Francisco. The city of San Francisco took a dramatic step Wednesday, February 3, 2021, in its effort to get children back into public school classrooms, suing its own school district to try to force open the doors amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco has taken a dramatic step in its effort to get kids back in public schools, suing its own school district to try to force classrooms to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawsuit is the first of its kind in California and possibly the country, as school systems come under increasing pressure from parents and politicians to end online learning.

With support from Mayor London Breed, City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Wednesday sued the San Francisco Board of Education and the San Francisco Unified School District.

Teachers' unions in many large school districts, including San Francisco, say they won’t go back to classrooms until they are vaccinated.

“Not a single San Francisco public school student has set foot in their classroom in 347 days,” said City Attorney Dennis Herrera said at a news conference, calling it shameful and also unlawful.

“More than 54,000 San Francisco schoolchildren are suffering. They are being turned into Zoom-bies by online school. Enough is enough.”

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