Senate Bill 328 (2019), also known as the late start bill goes into effect July 1, 2022. The bill, which was codified in Education Code 46148, mandates that the school day cannot begin before 8 a.m. for middle schools, and 8:30 a.m. for high schools. […]
Category: legal
California school board members don’t have surety bonds: a new CPRA request explained
Multiple school districts and county offices of education have recently received California Public Records Act or Freedom of Information Act requests for copies of board members’ “surety bonds.” The request may claim that all public officials, including elected board members, are required to obtain a […]
March 15 layoff notices: What boards should know
As a member of a school board governance team, few situations are more sensitive than a district delivering March 15 layoff notices. The March 15 notice is a formal, written announcement from a school district to employees informing them that they may be released for […]
Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging school mask mandate
A San Diego Superior Court judge has ordered the complete dismissal of the lawsuit initiated against Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Public Health and other state health officials by two parent groups (Let Them Breathe and Reopen California Schools) over the requirements of […]
Charter school employees prohibited from serving on county boards of education in counties where employing schools are
On Nov. 2, 2021, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an advisory opinion (No. 20-102) concluding that executive directors and other charter school employees — like employees of traditional public schools — may not serve as members of the county board of education in the […]
Pros and cons of Project Labor Agreements
By Bode Owoyele, CSBA associate general counsel Project Labor Agreements (PLA) are a type of agreement between a project owner or developer and building trade unions, designed to govern the employer–employee relations of the general contractor and all subcontractors in connection with a particular construction […]
Answers provided to tough questions surrounding student off-campus speech case
The Supreme Court’s June ruling in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. has sowed uncertainty among local educational agencies across the country grappling with how to best handle student behavior off-campus. A Sept. 30 webinar hosted by the National School Boards Association and the National […]
Q&A: An in-depth look at AB 361 and virtual board meetings
On Sept. 17, 2021, CSBA sent out an email blast containing a summary of recently signed legislation, Assembly Bill 361. Since then, CSBA has received questions from members regarding AB 361’s revisions to the Brown Act regarding teleconferenced meetings held during a proclaimed state of […]
CSBA brings experts together to give tips on governing during chaotic times
“It’s clear that it is harder to be a school trustee now than it ever has been before,” CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy said during the association’s Sept. 13 webinar, “Governing in a Time of Chaos: Board Meetings in the age of […]
Federal judge blocks new DACA applicants
On July 16, 2021, a federal district court judge in Texas ruled against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, finding that President Obama exceeded his authority when he created the program by executive action in 2012. The decision creates uncertainty for undocumented students […]