Blog has regional input highlights: http://blog.csba.org
Published: September 1, 2013
CSBA Legislative Advocate Andrea Ball and Teri Burns, senior director for Policy and Programs, recapped highlights of the regional input sessions on the CSBA blog in posts on Aug. 9 and 21. Some highlights:
Los Angeles/San Diego, Aug. 8: In Los Angeles, CSBA Vice President Jesús Holguín and Director-at-Large, Black, Emma Turner spoke about the role of school boards in convening stakeholders, as well as the need to respect local boards’ authority—the principle of subsidiarity. They also pointed out the need for up-to-date information from the state as LCFF is implemented.
Sacramento/Redding, Aug. 12: Teri Vigil, a Fall River Joint Unified School District board member, spoke in Redding about the needs of small, rural districts. “We have challenges that other districts don’t share,” she said: “Large transportation costs, as we are 1,200 square miles. High socioeconomic challenges, and a large English language learner population. Please consider these areas when funding small rural schools, as most show all of your target areas.”
Priscilla Cox, a board member from Elk Grove Unified School District who participated in the Sacramento session, expressed her enthusiasm about “the new opportunities afforded with the dramatic and long-awaited changes in school funding.” She called for “local control and flexibility” to include a “consistent, adequate, predictable funding source with the ability for governance teams to designate the best use of funds at the district level with collaboration from school sites and parent community.”
Bakersfield and Fresno, Aug. 13: CSBA Director-at-Large, Hispanic, Kathryn Ramirez noted the need for flexibility to use funds both districtwide and in school site programs. Region 9 Director Chris Ungar spoke of the importance of community engagement in meeting the goals of LCFF to align local accountability plans for improved student outcomes with budget expenditures. He also called for clear, consistent and timely information from the state on the template the State Board will develop for Local Control and Accountability Plans.