Those concerns were discussed by board members, superintendents and CSBA staff in a March 9 webinar separating fact from fiction in the details of the bill and highlighting the efforts that were underway to reopen campuses well before the Governor signed AB 86. Participants also considered the benefits of the legislation, new hurdles it creates and issues it fails to address.

In addition to discussing the pros and cons of the bill, LEA panelists shared their experiences over the last year, illustrating the different challenges that they face based on factors including size, region and the demographics of their student bodies, as well as the flexibility needed to address those issues. Panelists answered several pressing questions about AB 86 during the webinar: Does it present unintended consequences?

Does it adequately address key issues related to COVID-19? Will it be a catalyst to get more students back in the classroom?

Governance teams and other education leaders have been working diligently throughout the pandemic to ensure children are safe, fed and continuing to learn despite these challenging circumstances, CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy said. “Despite what the members of the Legislature and others may think, many of our schools have been open and doing in-person instruction throughout the state,” Billy told attendees. “There are a lot of unsung heroes and it’s important to acknowledge those who have been doing the hard work of adapting to the changing healthcare guidance over the last few months and doing their best to ensure students are provided an education.”

There are some silver linings in the legislation, Dennis Meyers, Assistant Executive Director of CSBA’s Governmental Relations department, noted. “One of the things that we were able to secure is the grandfathering in of existing reopening plans,” he said. Other CSBA advocacy wins include language that allows for the expenditure of funds prior to resuming on-campus instruction so schools can more effectively prepare for the return of students; educator vaccination provisions have been expanded from teachers only to include all school staff working with students; and language on the set aside for paraprofessionals has been clarified to reinforce that paraprofessionals would be offering supplemental instruction and support.

Significant issues remain, however, including a mandate that school districts and county offices of education spend 10 percent of the funds received under the Expanded Learning Opportunities program to hire paraprofessionals regardless of whether a local educational agency needs the positions, can find qualified candidates in their area to hire or views such an expenditure as the best way of supporting students. Additionally, the bill does not provide a minimum funding level for small districts or address the exposure schools face due to the fact that most insurers are not covering COVID-19 liability, Meyers said.