San Francisco teachers strike: Schools will be closed Wednesday as negotiations continue

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Charles Drew Elementary pre-kindergarten teacher Michelle Williams blows a whistle while joining San Francisco Unified School District teachers from Bret Harte Elementary School, Charles Drew Elementary School, Malcom X Academy and George Washington

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SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco schools will be closed on Wednesday as negotiations continue in the ongoing teachers strike. 

Thousands of San Francisco educators rallied in Mission Dolores Park Tuesday as the second day of the strike got underway.

The teachers union and San Francisco Unified School District negotiating teams sat down for hours of talks Monday.

While there was no deal, both sides agree there was progress.

RELATED: Resources to help SFUSD families impacted by strike

The district and teachers have come to an agreement on three issues, including the use of artificial intelligence, services for families experiencing homelessness and steps toward putting long-term special education teachers in place.

San Francisco teachers strike: Day 2 ends without deal as negotiations continue

While there was no deal Tuesday, both sides agree there was progress. Pay and benefits continue to be major sticking points, with teachers asking for a 9% raise and fully-covered family health care.

What San Francisco teachers are asking for

What they're saying:

Pay and benefits continue to be major sticking points, with teachers asking for a 9% raise and fully-covered family health care.

The district's last offer was for a 6% raise and $24,000 benefit allowance to help cover health care costs; but that offer came with a catch: teachers would be expected to sacrifice retirement options to move forward with the deal.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Schools to remain closed through Tuesday amid SF teachers strike

"What is really the sticking point is that we need these things that we've demanded and that our teachers are saying that we need. But, we cannot make cuts to our contract," said Nathalie Hrizi of United Educators of San Francisco. "What I'm saying there are existing benefits and programs that they want to cut to fund the things we need."

The UESF president said that school administrators had said for the past 11 months that none of their demands were possible. "Clearly it is – when we stand together," said UESF President Cassondra Curiel. 

"The time is now for SFUSD to fully fund family healthcare, address special education workloads and provide fair compensation for certificated staff that will stabilize our schools and end this strike," Curiel added. 

What San Francisco Unified is saying

What they're saying:

The district has said it is staring down a looming $100 million dollar budget shortfall and structural deficit problem and has to make sound financial decisions.

"Under my leadership, SFUSD is on course for fiscal recovery. We do not want to derail that really hard work that we as a community have done," said San Francisco Unified Superintendent Maria Su.

Teachers have said there is money to be found and that the district is squirreling away a rainy day fund, a

Teachers say the rainy day has arrived, and that those funds have to be accessed to pay educators now to ensure the district stays attractive to families and viable in the years to come.

"Doing the things now, investing in students and teachers now is 100% going to pay off," Hrizi said.

The district said it is ready to continue negotiations until a deal is reached to get teachers and students back in the classrooms.

"We will continue to work around the clock to come to an agreement that honors our educators and is also fiscally responsible," the superintendent said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there has been no word on if the city's schools will be closed on Wednesday.

State schools superintendent

State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond, who is also running for governor, said on social media late Tuesday evening, that he has been in communication with both sides on negotiations in hopes of facilitating an agreement, but he added that the California Department of Education has "no official role or oversight of items being bargained."

Thurmond said he's offered to join the conversation in an informal role.  Speaking of both sides involved, he said, "It’s more urgent than ever that they double down on their effort in order to reach an agreement so that students and educators can return to the classroom as quickly as possible."

SF provides free food, extends care for students during teachers strike.

The City of San Francisco and non-profits are trying to provide for the district's 50,000 children and their families impacted by the SFUSD teachers strike which shut down all schools Monday.