It was inspiring to see CSBA’s members in our nation’s capital, demonstrating their deep knowledge of California schools and their tremendous passion for public education. Participants advocated for solutions to a wide range of issues including the educator shortage, special education school nutrition programs, student privacy and cybersecurity, broadband access and flexibility for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds (ESSER). This work is essential to ensure that California’s education system receives the respect and resources befitting a state that educates one of every eight public school students in the United States.

Hear that? Your local community needs you

ince the first school board met in Boston in 1712, individuals serving their community on school boards have been a beacon of public service. Being a public servant means committing time out of one’s personal life, work life, home life and spiritual life to serve others.

But now, during this time in America when our political divisions and distrust of public servants are being expressed in so many ways, board members are being confronted with behavior at their meetings, on the sidewalk in front of their homes, and on social media that was unimaginable just a few years ago. Being called criminals, child abusers, Marxists and yes, even traitors by those who disagree. Whoever would have thought these nouns would be used to describe a school board member?

To identify students who need reading support, the entire student body is tested, according to Kristi Forshee, program director and the lab’s main teacher. Once students are in the lab, which is also staffed with four paraprofessionals, they are separated according to their needs into groups, ideally made up of four or fewer students each.

oard members and district and COE staff are accustomed to reaching out to CSBA’s team of experts in the legal office, governmental relations and policy for guidance on tough issues and complex questions. We pride ourselves on responding with helpful information and general guidance, but when the questions called for legal advice, our hands were tied. Without an attorney–client relationship between CSBA attorneys and our members, we were unable to provide confidential advice and services. That has all changed with the introduction of our newest program.

For the first time in CSBA history, our attorneys can provide confidential legal services to subscribing members through an attorney–client relationship. From advice and counsel to independent investigations, our CSBA attorneys are here to provide your local educational agency with the confidential legal services you need, at a price you can afford.

Strengthening substitute teaching in California

his school year has not turned out as expected. Substitute teaching systems faltered throughout the pandemic and failed during the omicron wave. Keeping schools staffed has required district leaders to solve a moving puzzle, often by filling in themselves.

If we are honest with ourselves, the system never really worked all that well. It wasn’t designed for student learning or to create good jobs. In pre-pandemic times, just 80 percent of teaching jobs were covered and that varied dramatically by school, reflecting systemic inequality. Substitute teaching is the original gig economy job, characterized by high autonomy and flexibility, little to no training or support, a high degree of professional isolation with no guarantee of income or professional growth. Its chief strength has been keeping costs low.

CSBA members provide testimony in Legislature hearing on recall elections

They suggest practical reforms to ensure the process reflects community sentiment

In early December, the California Legislature held a joint informational hearing of the Assembly Elections Committee and Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, “Evaluating California’s State and Local Recall Process,” to review the recall process.

The California Constitution requires the Legislature to “provide for recall of local officers.” For most local jurisdictions that means that local officers may be recalled by submitting a petition signed by at least 10 percent to 30 percent of the registered voters eligible to vote for the targeted official, with the exact percentage depending on the number of registered voters. The timeframe for collecting petition signatures varies from 40 to 160 days depending on the number of registered voters. If the relevant signature threshold for the recall is met, the governing body has 14 days after the meeting at which it receives a certificate of sufficiency to order the recall election, which must be held between 88 and 125 days later.