June 2026: SFLCV Endorses Phil Kim for Board of Education

The San Francisco League of Conservation Voters supports Phil Kim for Board of Education based on a comparative assessment of candidates’ responses on environmental priorities, fiscal constraints, and district governance.

Across the field of candidates, there is broad agreement on core issues. Brandee Marckmann, Virginia Cheung, and Kim all support expanding outdoor and experiential learning, improving environmental health conditions in schools, and utilizing district property for teacher housing. Each candidate also acknowledges the connection between safe, sustainable school environments, and student outcomes.

Differences emerge in how these priorities would be implemented. Kim’s proposals more consistently focus on integrating environmental goals into existing district systems, particularly for facilities planning, budgeting, and accountability structures. He identifies specific gaps, such as the absence of an environmental safety workforce, and proposes aligning capital investments and audits to address health hazards and infrastructure needs.

By comparison, Marckmann emphasizes a broader “Sustainable Community Schools” and a Green New Deal framework, with a focus on community-driven programming and structural reforms, while Cheung prioritizes partnerships, capital improvements, and a whole-child model tied to environmental health. These approaches share similar goals but rely more heavily on future program development or external funding.

On fiscal issues, Kim places greater emphasis on multi-year planning, transparency, and aligning new investments with existing constraints. Other candidates focus more on revenue generation, governance restructuring, or program expansion, with less specificity on how environmental initiatives would be prioritized within the current budget context.

Regarding school closures/consolidation and facilities use, Kim does not take a categorical position but instead frames environmental health, access to green space, and community impact as key decision-making criteria. Marckmann opposes closures outright, and Cheung supports a moratorium, reflecting differing approaches to managing enrollment decline and infrastructure.

Kim’s integrated approach, which embeds environmental priorities within core district functions and maintains a focus on implementation, distinguishes his candidacy in this evaluation.

SFLCV encourages voters to support Phil Kim for Board of Education.