Winter 2025
The California School Boards Association is the essential voice for public education. We inspire our members to be knowledgeable leaders, extraordinary governance practitioners and ardent advocates for all students.
California’s ban on suspension for willful defiance
by Kimberly Sellery
CEO’s note
by Vernon M. Billy
California is in the grips of a student achievement crisis amplified by the impact of natural disasters, rapid change at the federal level, culture wars and a lack of a coherent master plan by state leaders. The achievement gap crisis, left unresolved, will continue to sacrifice human potential, threaten our national security, undermine our economic prowess as a state and nation, and diminish opportunities to strengthen all communities. California’s leaders talk about accelerating student achievement, but as the saying goes, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” We’ve made enough wishes; it’s time to develop a plan — a master plan — to close the achievement gap.
CSBA 2025 Board of Directors
- Tyler Nelson
Region 1, Ukiah USD - Bruce Ross
Region 2, Redding ESD - Vacant
Region 3 - Renee Nash
Region 4, Eureka Union SD - Vacant
Region 5 - Jackie Wong
Region 6, Washington USD - Rachel Hurd
Region 7, San Ramon Valley USD - Christopher “Kit” Oase
Region 8, Ripon USD - Roger Snyder
Region 9, Scotts Valley USD - Kathy Spate
Region 10, Caruthers USD - Vacant
Region 11 - William Farris
Region 12, Sierra Sands USD - Annette Lewis
Region 14, Contra Costa COE - Susan Henry
Region 15, Huntington Beach Union HSD - Karen Gray
Region 16, Silver Valley USD - Eleanor Evans
Region 17, Oceanside USD - Bruce Dennis
Region 18, Riverside COE - Devon Conley
Region 20, Mountain View Whisman SD - Rocio Rivas
Region 21 - Nancy Smith
Region 22, Palmdale SD - Helen Hall
Region 23, Walnut Valley USD - Jan Baird
Region 24, South Whittier ESD - Chris Clark
Director-at-Large African American, Folsom-Cordova USD - Christina Cameron-Otero
Director-at-Large American Indian, Needles USD - Sylvia Leong
Director-at-Large Asian/Pacific Islander, Cupertino Union SD - Michael Teasdale
Director-at-Large County, Ventura COE - Alma Carina Castro
Director-at-Large Hispanic, Lynwood USD
from the field
These opportunity gaps were, in turn, strongly linked with levels of educational attainment, including whether children graduated from college or not, as well as their annual earnings in early adulthood. This evidence strongly suggests that a key to understanding the long-term consequences of low family income is the accumulation of opportunities across childhood and adolescence in learning contexts both inside and outside of school.
In efforts to explain why family income is so strongly correlated with a child’s chances of academic success, education researchers have theorized that “opportunity gaps” — systemic, pervasive and compounding disparities in access to resources that support learning inside and outside of school across childhood and adolescence — are to blame. Until now, however, the research evidence for this perspective has been largely based on snapshots of children’s lives in one setting (e.g., at home or in the classroom or in their neighborhoods) during a single stage of childhood (e.g., during early childhood or middle childhood or adolescence).
legal insights
ach term, the United States Supreme Court receives around 7,000-8,000 requests for case review (called “petitions for writ of certiorari”). Using the “rule of four” — by which four justices must agree a case is worth considering — approximately 80 cases are granted review. For most cases, if certiorari is not granted, that is the end of their appellate journey.
Troy Flint, tflint@csba.org
Editorial Director
Kimberly Sellery, ksellery@csba.org
Senior Staff Writers
Heather Kemp, hkemp@csba.org
Alisha Kirby, akirby@csba.org
Director of Marketing and Communications
Monica Griffis, mgriffis@csba.org
Director of Graphic Design and Branding
Kerry Macklin, kmacklin@csba.org
Senior Graphic Designer
Amanda Moen, amoen@csba.org
Graphic Designer
Thairah Singharath, tsingharath@csba.org
Circulation and Advertising
csba@csba.org
CSBA officers
Dr. Bettye Lusk, Monterey Peninsula USD
President-elect
Debra Schade, Solana Beach SD
Vice President
Sabrena Rodriguez, Ventura USD
Immediate Past President
Albert Gonzalez, Santa Clara USD
CEO & Executive Director
Vernon M. Billy
Articles submitted to California Schools are edited for style, content and space prior to publication. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent CSBA policies or positions. Articles may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Endorsement by CSBA of products and services advertised in California Schools is not implied or expressed.
Zero-emission refers to any school bus that does not emit waste or pollutants into the atmosphere. Electric school buses are the most popular zero-emission vehicle option that local educational agencies are adopting.
There are several extensions built into AB 579 for LEAs that will not be able to purchase only zero-emission buses after 2035. Beginning in 2035, LEAs can apply to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for one five-year mandate extension. To qualify for the extension, an LEA, upon determination by CARB, must “reasonably demonstrate” that zero-emission buses cannot feasibly provide for the daily transportation needs of its students due to terrain or route constraints.
The defining moment for our district during my tenure was when I was persuasive in getting our superintendent and entire board to attend CSBA’s Masters In Governance.® One very important outcome was collectively establishing our values, vision, mission and priority goals. I’ve always believed that leadership is not about standing alone — the unity of purpose through this process has enabled us to build a district where equity, inclusion and opportunity are not just aspirations but core values that guide everything we do.
For new or aspiring board members, my advice is to always prioritize the needs of students in every decision you make. Take time to truly understand the unique challenges and strengths of the schools and communities you serve and be a constant advocate for equity and access to quality education. Build strong relationships with fellow board members, district staff and the community, as collaboration is key to meaningful change.
It has been said that excellence in the classroom begins with excellence in the boardroom. A good board member is committed to serving with integrity, placing students’ interests at the heart of every decision. Key qualities include strong communication and active listening skills, which help foster collaboration and transparency within the board and with the community. Additionally, a solid understanding of governance and accountability is essential, along with a commitment to ongoing professional development.
CSBA played an incredible role in my journey as a trustee and the benefits to my district were immense. Professional and leadership development through a wide array of experiences including Masters in Governance, conferences, governance consulting, legislative advocacy and serving in Delegate Assembly, as well as on multiple committees and on CSBA’s Board of Directors, resulted in learning about cutting-edge issues, resources and strategies to drive improvement in our district.
When I think back 28 years ago to when I first joined the board, I think of the many young people, especially young ladies, who might not have seen themselves represented in leadership. I hope that my journey has shown them that there is no limit to what they can achieve and that those voices, perspectives and contributions are not only needed but valued.
This interview has been edited for length.
Would you like to participate in an upcoming Member Profile? Contact editor@csba.org.
The defining moment for our district during my tenure was when I was persuasive in getting our superintendent and entire board to attend CSBA’s Masters In Governance.® One very important outcome was collectively establishing our values, vision, mission and priority goals. I’ve always believed that leadership is not about standing alone — the unity of purpose through this process has enabled us to build a district where equity, inclusion and opportunity are not just aspirations but core values that guide everything we do.
For new or aspiring board members, my advice is to always prioritize the needs of students in every decision you make. Take time to truly understand the unique challenges and strengths of the schools and communities you serve and be a constant advocate for equity and access to quality education. Build strong relationships with fellow board members, district staff and the community, as collaboration is key to meaningful change.
It has been said that excellence in the classroom begins with excellence in the boardroom. A good board member is committed to serving with integrity, placing students’ interests at the heart of every decision. Key qualities include strong communication and active listening skills, which help foster collaboration and transparency within the board and with the community. Additionally, a solid understanding of governance and accountability is essential, along with a commitment to ongoing professional development.
CSBA played an incredible role in my journey as a trustee and the benefits to my district were immense. Professional and leadership development through a wide array of experiences including Masters in Governance, conferences, governance consulting, legislative advocacy and serving in Delegate Assembly, as well as on multiple committees and on CSBA’s Board of Directors, resulted in learning about cutting-edge issues, resources and strategies to drive improvement in our district.
When I think back 28 years ago to when I first joined the board, I think of the many young people, especially young ladies, who might not have seen themselves represented in leadership. I hope that my journey has shown them that there is no limit to what they can achieve and that those voices, perspectives and contributions are not only needed but valued.
This interview has been edited for length.
Would you like to participate in an upcoming Member Profile? Contact editor@csba.org.
Congratulations
to CSBA’s Masters in Governance® Class of 2024!*
More than 2,000 board members and superintendents have participated in CSBA’s highly acclaimed Masters in Governance program.
CSBA’s Masters in Governance (MIG) program equips board members and superintendents with the knowledge and skills to build and support an effective governance structure.
The following graduates have successfully completed the 2024 in-person and virtual MIG program, gaining essential knowledge for being an effective governance team member.
Adelanto ESD
Miguel Soto
Alisal Union SD
Leticia Garcia
Antioch USD
Jaguanana Lathan
Arcadia USD
Greg Gazanian
Jennifer Vargo
Aromas-San Juan USD
Monica Martinez-Guaracha
Bakersfield City ESD
Brooke Malley Ault
Bassett USD
Aaron Simental
Belmont-Redwood Shores SD
Dan Deguara
David Koss
Cambrian SD
Beth Erickson
Carmel USD
Sharon Ofek
Jason Remynse
Castro Valley USD
Sara Raymond
Cayucos ESD
Gretchen Ross
Coast USD
Juli Amodei
Cypress ESD
Troy Tanaka
Davis Joint USD
Lea Darrah
El Dorado Union HSD
Brooke Van Komen
Etiwanda ESD
Dayna Karsch
Eureka Union SD
Tyler Holt
Erin Grover
class act
Best practices in action
Within the boundaries of Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD), an area with one of the largest populations of foster youth in the state, lies the Independent City (IC) — a one-day mock city where foster and homeless youth can safely simulate emancipation and living on their own, learn to balance a budget, fill out government forms and find out what resources are available to help them live independently.
“You’ve probably heard some of the grim statistics and data regarding foster youth,” said AVUHSD Director of Behavior Interventions Matt Case. “About 50 percent don’t graduate high school, only about 3 percent complete college, 25 percent will end up unemployed within the first couple of years of emancipation and 30 percent are incarcerated.”
In the last nine years, more than 1,000 youth have successfully navigated IC, positively changing their trajectory in the process and increasing their odds of successfully pivoting toward adulthood despite the outsized challenges they face.
BoardWise
BY DARYL CAMP, MONIKA MOULIN AND DEBORAH SIMS
Ten years after the introduction of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), California’s school districts and county offices of education (COEs) continue refining their strategies to ensure resources are used effectively to support students. A critical component of this process is the involvement of school-level and district- or COE-based community advisory groups, whose input shapes mid-course revisions to the LCAP and aligns actions with student and community needs.
The LCAP operates within a continuous-improvement framework, following a cycle of planning, doing, studying and acting. This model requires ongoing feedback to assess the effectiveness of investments and adapt to emerging needs. Advisory groups provide this essential feedback, offering insights into the day-to-day realities of schools and their communities.
CSBA County Board
Governance Workshop
April 11-12, 2025
This workshop offers county board members and superintendents strategies to improve governance effectiveness and drive impactful change.
csba at issue
On Dec. 2, the CSBA Board of Directors took a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to expand and enhance services to county boards when it decided on a series of recommendations presented by CSBA’s County Board Transitional Working Group (TWG).
The board’s action concluded a yearlong process in which 15 county trustees from across the state — including past presidents of the former California County Boards of Education (CCBE) and past CCBE directors — developed a set of recommendations about programs, trainings, supports and events that should be added or preserved in order to create the best possible future for CSBA County Board Member Services.
The TWG recommendations emerged from an intensive development process beginning in January 2024 and encompassing 11 full committee meetings and 12 additional subcommittee meetings. After a thorough review conducted during the board’s regular December meeting, the following actions were taken.
Taking on
human
trafficking
by Alisha Kirby
Awareness & community partnerships are key
In 2017, Monterey County Office of Education trustee John McPherson attended a conference highlighting various social issues. That day, he and other attendees watched a video on the topic of human trafficking and child exploitation in the United States. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion of a person in order to benefit from sexual exploitation or forced labor.
“There was one survivor that looked exactly like my daughter,” McPherson recalled. “Then they showed a heat map of where this all is, and you could see how the Bay Area is very, very hot, but you could see this little finger come down Highway 101 into the Salinas Valley. It was powerful hearing from a survivor and realizing that these people, these kids, are not doing this voluntarily, they’ve been dragged into it. They are the victims. There’s no such thing as a teen prostitute — this is sexual abuse of minors. That was my ‘aha’ moment.”
Awareness & community partnerships are key
In 2017, Monterey County Office of Education trustee John McPherson attended a conference highlighting various social issues. That day, he and other attendees watched a video on the topic of human trafficking and child exploitation in the United States. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion of a person in order to benefit from sexual exploitation or forced labor.
“There was one survivor that looked exactly like my daughter,” McPherson recalled. “Then they showed a heat map of where this all is, and you could see how the Bay Area is very, very hot, but you could see this little finger come down Highway 101 into the Salinas Valley. It was powerful hearing from a survivor and realizing that these people, these kids, are not doing this voluntarily, they’ve been dragged into it. They are the victims. There’s no such thing as a teen prostitute — this is sexual abuse of minors. That was my ‘aha’ moment.”
to Suspension
California’s ban on suspension for willful defiance
alifornia is leading the country in a student-centered initiative to reduce suspensions and tackle the disproportionality experienced by marginalized groups. Senate Bill 274 bans suspensions for “willful defiance” for all grades. The bill was supported by many civil rights advocacy organizations, including American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) California and Disability Rights California, that recognize Black students and students with disabilities are suspended at significantly higher rates than their peers, as are other historically underserved populations.
ACLU California has described infractions for willful defiance as too broad and subjective, with some students being suspended for “dancing, dress code violations, or not paying attention in class.” Talking back is another common ground for willful defiance suspensions, and experts say that can be shaped by biases.
“Students belong in school,” said bill author Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) in a press release. “Suspending youth for low-level behavior issues leads to significant harm, including learning loss and a higher likelihood that affected students will drop out of school completely. SB 274 puts the needs of students first. Instead of kicking them out of school, we owe it to students to figure out what’s causing them to act out and help them fix it.”
athletics benefit student well-being
Sports participation has been associated with increased school engagement, positive academic outcomes and various mental and physical health benefits for young people.
While local educational agencies attempt to tackle these issues on the heels of the pandemic, athletic opportunities may be one solution that is already available in their schools.
necdotally, we hear from our schools that their student athletes have better grades, they have less disciplinary incidents, and they come to school more often … We obviously have minimum restrictions of a 2.0 grade point average to participate, but most of our athletes will exceed that because of the things they learned from sports: the discipline, the perseverance and the time management skills,” said Ron Nocetti, the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) executive director.
ow that 2024 has come to a close it is time to look back at how legislators voted on measures important to school district and county boards of education. An indicator of how individual legislators protect or impact the ability and authority of school district and county board member authority, CSBA’s Legislative Scorecard reflects on how legislators voted on critical public education measures that came before them in 2024. This last year saw over 2,124 bills proposed and 990 make it to the Governor’s desk for his consideration.
Of course, only a fraction of these bills will affect education — and with that in mind, it’s time now for CSBA’s annual look at how your Senators and Assemblymembers voted on key legislation impacting public schools.
a conversation with…
a conversation with…
ad index
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- Northern California Carpenters Regional CouncilIBC
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- Smithsonian4
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- Spot.ai27
- Varsity Tutors4
- Burke, Williams & Sorensen51
CSBA’s Masters in Governance Program
In-person and virtual cohorts will begin January through March 2025.
Board members have to make tough decisions for students and answer tough questions from community members. CSBA’s Masters in Governance® (MIG) program offers district and county office of education board members the opportunity to strengthen their individual and governance team skills through five in-depth courses.
You don’t have to face these challenges alone — MIG will help prepare you to effectively serve your local educational agency and community.
Bundle all five MIG courses at once to receive a 15% discount.
Get more information at
csba.org/mig
Thanks for reading our Winter 2025 issue!