San Francisco Unified is ending classes at the Junipero Serra Annex, saying the facility would require $1.5 million in repairs to remain operational, Mission Local reported.
The district wrote that, "given the scale of those repairs, we are prioritizing investments in district-owned buildings where we can ensure long-term stability, safety, and quality learning environments for our youngest students." It has been discussing a "relocation" of the school site since at least late May, when officials presented districtwide plans to expand early education and transitional kindergarten. That May 20 presentation outlined a "potential relocation" of the two transitional kindergarten and three preschool classrooms at the Annex's Bernal location to other school sites because of "capital improvement needs," Mission Local reported.
A parent, identified as Colley, the parent of a 4-year-old student, said he and other parents are upset over what they call a lack of transparency. He has been a parent at the school for two years and said a letter in September was the first notice he received of the plan to, in the district's words, "transition" the school — a term he considers misleading. "That's actually not what's happening," Colley said. "The staff at the school has done a tremendous job of building such a strong community and for the district to just kind of like come in and wipe that out with no family involvement, no discussion, and then to kind of pretend it's not happening by calling it a 'relocation' and a 'transition' is evasive and frustrating."
In 2024, the district announced that school closures for the 2025-26 academic year would be suspended, but starting in 2027 closures can resume if the district follows California Department of Education best practices, including a certified fiscal analysis, an equity audit, community engagement, a transition plan and an analysis of student reassignment policies. State rules also call for a committee of parents, staff and community members. District spokesperson Katrina Kincade said the district is not undergoing a formal closure for Junipero Serra Annex and that the decision was made over concerns for student safety. "The building is not up to code — it needs aggressive repairs," Kincade said. "This is not a school closure for portfolio reasons." City documents show the district has completed at least three renovation projects at the site going back to 2010, with the most recent repairs in May 2025, Mission Local reported.