By Chris Reefe, CSBA Legislative Director
In a clear demonstration of how CSBA advocacy can influence important legislative matters, Gov. Gavin Newsom took action on two CSBA priority bills on Sept. 22. With less than 10 days left to sign or veto bills on his desk, the Governor vetoed Assembly Bill 2088 (McCarty, D-Sacramento) and signed into law CSBA co-sponsored legislation Senate Bill 1315 (Archuleta, D-Pico Rivera).
“CSBA members should take pride in knowing it was their leadership and assertive advocacy that helped lead to the successful outcomes of these two measures,” said CSBA President Albert Gonzalez. “I want to extend my thanks and gratitude to our membership, not only for their advocacy in the last weeks of the legislative session, but for their participation throughout the year. When we speak together with one voice, it has a powerful impact.”
CSBA staff and members worked tirelessly to defeat AB 2088. AB 2088 would have forced school districts and county offices of education to hire existing classified staff for open positions without considering if they are well qualified for the position or their past job performance, and would have fundamentally struck at the heart of local control. Read the Governor’s veto message »
Nearly 700 school district and county board members responded to CSBA’s Veto AB 2088 Action Alert by submitting letters to the Governor urging his veto. Education leaders from across the state shared that it is a local educational agency’s authority and duty to hire well-qualified staff who meet the needs of their students and schools. AB 2088 would have struck at the heart of the critical role school district and county boards of education play in helping to meet the needs of their students.
In a statement released soon after the Governor’s announcement vetoing AB 2088, CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy commended the Governor for his action:
“The Governor rightly decided this legislation would harm students by denying school districts and county offices of education the ability to hire the right classified staff. A school district or county office of education’s authority to hire candidates who meet the needs of their students and that of their community is sacred. Schools are first and foremost institutions of education, and while it makes sense to promote existing employees into vacant positions when qualified, that goal should not take precedence over the needs of students. CSBA thanks the Governor for reaffirming the primary role of our public schools and advocating for California students.”
Governor signs CSBA co-sponsored SB 1315
In another win for CSBA’s advocacy, the Governor announced his signature of SB 1315, which is a product of direct membership input. SB 1315 was developed to help address the administrative reporting burdens many local educational agencies face. Co-sponsored with the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), it will require the California Department of Education to document and report to the Legislature the number of state and federally mandated reports districts and COEs must submit. The goal is to identify where information could be consolidated, and which reports could be eliminated — helping schools free more time and resources to provide for the needs of California’s students.
Earlier this year, CSBA released a brief, “Drowning in Documentation,” in support of SB 1315, which provides just a sampling of the plethora of reports districts and county offices of education must submit and is the precursor to a full report to be released next month as well as future research and advocacy efforts. In the end, SB 1315 will help state and federal lawmakers be better informed about what reports are most helpful to policy development while dispensing with others that have no real benefit.
As the Governor continues to act upon the education-related legislation on his desk, CSBA will keep its members informed of the latest developments.
