In San Francisco, Virus is Contained but Schools Are Still Closed

[David Lockmiller]

S.F. schools Superintendent Vincent Matthews agrees to stay if board behaves
San Francisco Chronicle by Jill Tucker
April 18, 2021Updated: April 18, 2021 6:45 p.m.

Here is an example of "how to be succinct in making a point." The following are the first four paragraphs of the story by the San Francisco Chronicle's education reporter:

When San Francisco public schools Superintendent Vincent Matthews agreed to stay on the job for another year just a month after announcing his retirement, he didn’t ask for more money. He demanded that the school board behave.

The seven-member board is expected to vote on an amendment to Matthews’ contract Tuesday, which would make it a contractual obligation for the school board to be prepared for public meetings and refrain from creating new programs or mandates unrelated to reopening schools until they are fully back to in-person learning.

The new contract would also shift the balance of power to the superintendent, giving him nearly full discretion over hiring and firing.

Matthews announced in March that he would retire at the end of this school year, but rescinded that this month. The terms related to his remaining on the job were unknown — until now.