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research spotlight

By naomi eason

CSBA advisory group focuses on the needs of small districts

I

n California, more than half of school board members serve in school districts with an average daily attendance (ADA) of 2,500 or fewer students. These small school districts face a range of challenges and opportunities related to their size. To ensure CSBA understands and addresses the needs of small school districts, the association convenes the Small School District Advisory Workgroup.

The workgroup meets virtually every month and holds an in-person session during the Annual Education Conference and Trade Show (AEC). Recent discussion topics include county office of education services to small local educational agencies, the Local Control and Accountability Plan template, state and federal reporting requirements, categorical programs, extended learning opportunities, educator shortages and CSBA’s GAMUT Policy platform. The conversations highlight some of the unique struggles small LEAs face.

One struggle many small districts face is trying to keep up with the ever-growing list of state and federal reporting requirements. Smalls are required to complete the same number of reports with far fewer staff than many larger districts. Members of the workgroup report that the time spent completing reports is time taken away from the superintendent or superintendent/principal serving as an instructional leader. Some small LEAs have so few staff available to complete required reporting that they are forced to use precious resources that could be allocated toward improved student achievement to hire outside contractors to complete and submit reports.

To better understand the totality of state and federal reporting requirements, CSBA’s Research and Education Policy Development (REPD) Department recently reviewed statutory requirements and websites, surveyed members and hosted focus groups including participants from the California Department of Education (CDE) and legislative staff. The result is a document that highlights for PK-12 educators the breadth and depth of reporting requirements that consume valuable time and resources.

As part of the effort to get a handle on the burdensome reporting requirements, CSBA sponsored legislation this year related to this issue. Senate Bill 1315 (Archuleta, D-Pico Rivera) is an important measure that would require the CDE to produce a report on the number of state and federal reports required of LEAs.

There is an assumption that each report helps inform the state about the status and progress of its public education system; whether this is reflected in practice remains unclear. Some reports may be obsolete or duplicative, and some may even go unreviewed.

By assessing the number, type and scope of reports, the CDE can help identify where information could be condensed and where some reports could be eliminated — helping LEAs free up more time and resources to provide for the needs of California’s students. This will also help state lawmakers be informed about what reports are most helpful to policy development while dispensing with others that may have no real benefit. As of Aug. 5, 2024, SB 1315 was still in the suspense file where it awaits consideration. After passing a policy committee, any piece of legislation with a price tag of more than $150,000 is sent to its respective appropriations committee, which are responsible for deciding which bills to fund. Later in the year, bills that are passed out of the house in which they are introduced go through the appropriations committee in the other chamber, too. Hundreds of bills pile up — suspended in the legislative process — until the suspense file hearing, when the appropriations committees decide all at one time which bills get to move on for debate.

Two children wait by the roadside as a school bus approaches
The workgroup will host a session at AEC on the role of the superintendent/principal. If you are a small school district board member, superintendent or superintendent/principal, please check the schedule for details when it is published at aec.csba.org. AEC attendees may also consider registering for the Small School District luncheon, where smalls members can come together to network and hear from a keynote speaker poised to address the needs, challenges and opportunities of small LEAs.

Teacher recruitment and retention

In addition to reporting requirements, the Small School District Advisory Workgroup has also discussed promising local practices related to the recruitment and retention of teachers. Members shared the following strategies that are working for their small districts:

  • Offering gas stipends to help offset commute costs
  • Collaborating with local colleges/universities to establish student-teaching MOUs to allow for student teachers to be placed in classrooms who might later qualify to fill vacancies
  • Hiring credential candidates as full-time substitutes while they complete their requirements, then moving them into vacant positions
  • Creating or revitalizing Future Teachers of America clubs on high school campuses to identify students interested in the field of teaching
  • Partnering with COEs who host teacher training programs
  • For specialized and hard-to-fill positions (e.g. dual immersion, math), offering year-to year step/column compensation to both in- and out-of-state candidates
  • Participating in local college/university job fairs
  • Offering mental health days for teachers in contract language

Workgroup members also had some suggestions for how the state could help support the recruiting and retaining of teachers in small, rural and remote communities:

  • Providing more tax incentives for teachers, including those related to housing
  • Addressing ever-increasing health care costs
  • Offering year-to-year reciprocity in California with educators transferring from other states
  • Developing a public education campaign to address and change the narrative of the teaching profession

Members of the Small School District Advisory Workgroup:

  • Kayode Kadara, Board President, Allensworth ESD
  • Mike Geluardi, Board President, Bonny Doon Union ESD
  • Rick Garcia, Board Member, Buttonwillow Union ESD
  • Indira Lopez-Jones, Board Member, Calistoga Joint USD
  • Pat Kernan, Board Member, Camino Union ESD
  • Kathy Spate, Regional Director, Caruthers USD
  • Tracy Nash, Board President, Esparto USD
  • Zachery Ramos, Board Member, Gustine USD
  • Lola Skelton, Board Member, Hughes Elizabeth Lakes SD
  • Kelly Osborne, Delegate, Laguna Beach USD
  • Heather Hopkins, Delegate, Las Lomitas ESD
  • Maritza Nieves, Board Member, Los Nietos SD
  • Alexa Horne, Board Member, McCabe Union ESD
  • Tom O’Malley, Superintendent, Modoc Joint USD
  • Richard Severy, Board Member, Moraga ESD
  • Rob Effa, Superintendent, North Cow Creek ESD
  • Renee Lo, Board Member, Orchard ESD
  • Carolyn Swanson, Board President, Pacific Grove USD
  • Bryan Easter, Board President, Panama-Buena Vista Union SD
  • Melissa Crick, Board President, Paradise USD
  • Chris Belmer, Board President, Placerville Union SD
  • John Quintanilla, Board Member, Rosemead ESD
  • Andrea Hoheisel, Board Member, Shasta Union HSD
  • Karen Gray, Regional Director, Silver Valley USD
  • Jeannie Kerr, Board Member, St. Helena USD
  • Mendi Swan, Board Member, Templeton USD
  • Elizabeth Evans, Superintendent, Valle Lindo
  • Melissa Krogh, Board President, Warner USD
  • Mark Aguilar, Board Member, Washington Colony ESD
Dr. Naomi Eason is Chief of the CSBA Research and Education Policy Development Department. Questions? Contact research@csba.org.
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