CSBA Annual Conference sends an assertive ‘S.O.S.’
Published: January 1, 2010
When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers his State of the State address in Sacramento later this month, he’ll find a paper trail awaiting him that stretches all the way back to San Diego, site of the 2009 CSBA Annual Education Conference and Trade Show and of the latest meeting of CSBA’s Delegate Assembly.
The paper trail—CSBA’s “State of Our Schools” letter-writing campaign—shares the initials of the governor’s annual address, but not much more. Instead, the S.O.S. letters will remind the governor and legislators of the devastating effects state budget cuts have had on California’s public schools. CSBA collected hundreds of such S.O.S. letters from participants in its Annual Conference, held in the San Diego Convention Center Dec. 3-5, and the Delegate Assembly that preceded it.
“This is a badge of honor,” CSBA Executive Director Scott P. Plotkin, speaking of the distinctive red-and-white S.O.S. stickers given to those who joined in the letter-writing campaign, told participants in San Diego. “We’re going to deliver every one of these letters to his doorstep,” Plotkin added, referring to the governor.
Federal education policy in the new Obama administration, strategies for boosting student achievement, insights on effective approaches to school governance and other topics were also discussed by the more than 2,000 school board members, administrators and other friends of public education who attended the Annual Conference, but remedies for coping with budget cuts to education dominated the intensive three-day event—and the letter-writing campaign was a timely component of that.
“Dear Governor Schwarzenegger and Members of the State Legislature,” the template for the S.O.S. letters begins, “Because of the severe budget cuts to education funding, the state of the schools in my district/county is … ”
The template, a campaign description and related resources are available under the Spotlight section of CSBA’s Web site. Letters can be faxed to CSBA for mass delivery to lawmakers.
“Now is the time to tell our governor and legislature about the conditions schools are facing as a result of these draconian budget cuts,” Plotkin said of the continuing campaign. “I urge every school board member to send us an S.O.S. letter as soon as possible. Let your legislators know that they can no longer balance the state’s budget on the backs of our schools.”
Annual Conference focuses on fiscal issues
Many Annual Conference sessions equipped participants with ideas for addressing local budget problems.
Presenters ranged from state Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, education experts and CSBA Business Affiliates to local superintendents, board members and other governance team members from school districts and county offices of education throughout the state, as well as CSBA’s own staff.
CSBA’s elected leadership was also well represented, supplementing practical advice with calls for grassroots action to defend public schools’ interests against what 2009-10 CSBA President Frank Pugh termed the “penny-wise, pound-foolish behavior that passes for fiscal responsibility in Sacramento.”
“I need you to be in the face of your elected representative every time he or she votes for a bad bill,” Pugh urged local governance teams. “You are the backbone of CSBA. … I will be counting on your help this coming year to move our agenda for education.”
Easy link:
Download the “State of Our Schools” letter template and related resources from the Spotlight section of CSBA's Web site—and be sure to fax completed letters to CSBA.