San Francisco Schools Scramble as Teachers Plan Walkout

District orders staff to report to 'Staff Centers' during planned teacher strike, drawing confusion and criticism

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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As San Francisco teachers prepare to strike on Monday, the San Francisco Unified School District has instructed its 6,000-plus teachers, as well as other district employees, to report to designated 'Staff Centers' instead of their regular schools. This move has sparked confusion and criticism from teachers, principals, and other workers, who see it as an attempt to undermine the strike.

Why it matters

The planned teacher strike in San Francisco highlights the ongoing tensions between the district and its workforce over issues like pay, benefits, and resources for students. The district's attempt to keep some operations running during the strike is seen by many as a misguided effort that could further inflame tensions and undermine the workers' right to protest.

The details

On Friday evening, the San Francisco Unified School District emailed its teachers, principals, and other district employees, informing them that schools would be closed on Monday due to the strike and that they were being 'redeployed' to one of eight designated 'Staff Centers' around the city. The district says this is to 'maintain District operations' during the work stoppage, but teachers and other workers are confused and insulted by the move, seeing it as an attempt to undermine the strike by forcing them to cross picket lines.

  • Schools in San Francisco will be closed on Monday, February 10, 2026 due to the planned teacher strike.
  • Teachers voted 97.6% to authorize the strike, which would be the first in San Francisco in 47 years.
  • The district emailed workers on Friday, February 7, 2026 with the 'redeployment' instructions.

The players

San Francisco Unified School District

The public school district serving the city of San Francisco, which is ordering its employees to report to designated 'Staff Centers' during the planned teacher strike.

Cassondra Curiel

The president of the teachers union, who accused the district of wasting time on the 'redeployment' plan instead of negotiating a deal to avoid the strike.

Anna Klafter

The president of the principals and administrators union, who said the 'redeployment' plan is confusing and that workers who want to report to work will likely be deterred by large picket lines at the school sites.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of spending time redeploying district staff to hubs on Monday, we'd love to see the district put all their efforts into making a proposal that meets our students' and communities' needs.”

— Cassondra Curiel, President, teachers union (Mission Local)

“I don't understand this redeployment plan. If someone did want to report to work, a 300-person picket line at Lowell High School will probably give them pause.”

— Anna Klafter, President, principals and administrators union (Mission Local)

What’s next

The district's 'redeployment' plan and the potential for large picket lines at school sites are likely to be key issues as the teacher strike in San Francisco unfolds on Monday.

The takeaway

The San Francisco Unified School District's attempt to keep some operations running during the planned teacher strike has backfired, drawing criticism from workers who see it as an effort to undermine their right to protest. This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between the district and its workforce over issues like pay, benefits, and resources for students.