As we move through this transition year for CSBA county members, the County Board Transitional Working Group (TWG) wants to ensure that there is transparency in the process as recommendations are developed to take the Board of Directors. To that end, the TWG will be providing regular updates through the end of the year.
The TWG continues to meet on a regular basis, along with the four subcommittees. Listed below are some highlights of current county-related work:
Planning for the CSBA County Board Member Services Conference, happening Sept. 13-15 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, is underway. Pre-conference events including the new, state-mandated ethics training and a Brown Act training will take place on Sept. 12.
The conference will feature a Master Class on Advocacy and Legislative Training, networking meal functions, skills classes, a welcome reception and a session on the CSBA Region 14 Caucus.
Registration is now open for pre-conference events and the main conference, and presentation proposals are being accepted through May 27. Learn about housing accommodations, the preliminary conference schedule, sponsorship information and more by visiting the event page.
On May 8, CSBA and TWG members hosted the webinar “CSBA leadership and Transitional Working Group to discuss essential role of county boards.” The event covered the rationale for transitioning from CCBE to CSBA County Board Member Services; ongoing efforts of the TWG; the status of legacy CCBE items like its handbook and fall conference; the status of CCBE reserves; the structure of the new Region 14, developed to serve county trustees; and legislative advocacy on behalf of county boards. It also featured a Q&A session. At the height of viewership, there were 119 participants logged on to the live session.
For county members who were unable to attend the live webinar, it can be accessed on the CSBA YouTube channel here. A written recap can be found here.
The TWG developed a survey for the purpose of collecting statewide data from county board members to determine what they are looking for in terms of training opportunities, networking, resources and publications specific to the unique roles of county board members, which was open April 2-May 10. The survey, composed of 45 questions, closed with a total of 100 submissions.
The intent of the survey was to collect data from new and veteran county members representing county offices of education across the state throughout the CSBA regions and include responses from large counties, small counties and county/districts. Survey questions covered the March county training, the upcoming September conference; COE Masters in Governance; the County Trustee Governance Handbook; networking opportunities; the Annual Education Conference and Trade Show; and research and policy needs. Survey results will be used by TWG members to help shape the recommendations the group brings forward to the CSBA Board of Directors at their December meeting.
High-level preliminary results include:
- Survey respondents indicate the former CCBE March training, September conference and AEC are all successful or very successful events.
- At future events, respondents would like to learn about topics including advocacy; board/superintendent relationships; budgets; charter school oversight and renewals; court and community schools; interdistrict transfer appeals; and roles and responsibilities of the county trustee.
- Sixty-four percent of respondents want access to a combination of virtual and in-person events.
- Eighty-seven percent of respondents are interested in one- to two-page fact sheets to digest county-specific research and 52 percent want research presented via webinars.
- Ninety-one percent of respondents have a copy of the CCBE Trustee Handbook. Of those, 56 percent find the publication to be extremely valuable.
- Fifty percent of respondents find networking opportunities extremely valuable and 66 percent of those would like to attend in-person networking events.
When TWG members have analyzed the survey thoroughly, results will be shared with county board members.