School experts tackle needs of today's high school students 

With high school reform becoming a hot topic among local, state and national policy-makers, as well as a key feature of President George W. Bush’s second-term agenda, the members of a task force convened by the California School Boards Association held its first meeting Feb. 23. CSBA’s High School Reform Task Force is chaired by Immediate Past President David Pollock, and its 20 members include the CSBA Executive Committee along with board members and superintendents from throughout the state.

During the first meeting, task force members discussed their observations about the need to restructure high schools, along with the meaning of a high school diploma in the 21st Century. The group will examine some topics in more detail within three subcommittees focusing on curricular pathways, school environment and student achievement:

• The student achievement group spent its opening session discussing the use of data – what types of data boards should be asking for and how they can best interpret data to improve student achievement.
• The curricular pathways subcommittee listened to staff from the California Department of Education provide an overview of vocational education and career and technical education and discussed how academic standards do or do not complement the goals of workforce preparation.
• The subcommittee on school environment discussed attributes a "model" graduate would possess when leaving high school. They also spoke about student engagement, small learning communities, and relationships between adults and students.

During future meetings, the task force expects to discuss components of high school reform and questions about student needs that local boards may wish to consider as they shape secondary education in their communities.

The task force members are:

CSBA Immediate Past President David Pollock, chair; President Dr. Kerry Clegg, President-elect Luan Rivera, and Vice-President Dr. Kathleen Kinley; Marilyn Buchi, CSBA Past President, Fullerton Jt. Un. HSD; Del Cederquist, CSBA Past President, Fresno COE; Priscilla Cox, Delegate, Region 6, Elk Grove USD; Richard Garcia, Trustee, San Jose USD; Peter Hanley, Delegate, Region 5, San Mateo Un. HSD; Marguerite LaMotte, Delegate, Region 21, Los Angeles USD; Dawn McCoy, Delegate, Region 6, Sacramento City USD; Ilean Ochoa, Delegate, Region 23, Azusa USD; Frank Pugh, Director, Region 3, Santa Rosa City Schools; Charles Ramsey, Trustee, West Contra Costa USD; Arlie Ricasa, Delegate, Region 17, Sweetwater Un. HSD; Rob Schamberg, Superintendent, Black Oak Mine USD; Jay Schenirer, Gates Foundation; Steve Sturgeon, Delegate, Region 22, William S. Hart Un. HSD; Edward L. Vargas, Superintendent, Hacienda La Puente USD; Jill Wynns, Delegate, Region 5, San Francisco County & USD.