Incumbents lead vote in school board race

In a crowded race for the San Francisco school board, two incumbents appeared headed to victory Tuesday with two newcomers close behind as the votes were counted into the night.

The top four votegetters will join Gabriela López, Alison Collins and Faauuga Moliga on the board. Board members Rachel Norton and Stevon Cook were not running for reelection.

Incumbent Jenny Lam was in the top spot Tuesday night with 17.36% of the vote followed by her fellow incumbent Mark Sanchez with 17.01%.

Among the remaining contenders, Kevine Boggess and Matt Alexander followed them in the race, with 15% and 13%, respectively.

The other candidates in the race included Alida Fisher, Michelle Parker, who were not far behind, as well as Genevieve Lawrence, Nick Rothman, Andrew Douglas Alston and Paul Kangas, who trailed well back from their counterparts.

Four of the candidates, including Sanchez, Lawrence, Rothman and Alston, were teachers, as was returning board member Lopez.

This election could mean a majority of teachers on the board for the first time in recent memory, which could be significant given that many parents have been at odds with the teachers union over reopening schools.

Those elected will join a school board facing a host of divisive issues next year, including how to reopen schools, the potential renaming of 44 school sites as well as reconsideration of Lowell High School’s admission process.

The district is also expected to implement a new student assignment process, while continuing to navigate the pandemic and the return to inperson learning for all students.

In addition, San Francisco Unified officials have predicted an ongoing budget shortfall, which could lead to budget cuts, including staff reductions. The sevenmember board has tipped to the city’s progressive left in recent years, aligning closely with the teachers union, while taking up causes that included a vote to destroy the New Deal mural at George Washington High School, followed by another vote to obscure it from view.

Several of the current board members have expressed reticence to reopen schools despite a public health road map on how to return to inperson learning.