Delegates choose CSBA officers, directors
Published: December 15, 2004
During the second of two annual meetings, the Delegate Assembly of the California School Boards Association adopted amendments to the organization’s policy platform, a statement of political reform principals, and selected leaders who will guide the association’s work during the next few years.
The meeting, held Dec. 1-2 in San Francisco, afforded the full policy-making body of school board leaders an opportunity to learn about issues that will affect local districts in the coming year, such as the continuing struggle to secure constitutionally guaranteed funding from the state.
During his remarks to the Delegate Assembly, CSBA Executive Director Scott P. Plotkin said a key issue of the new year will be whether the governor and Legislature will honor the deal the education community made one year ago to accept a limited suspension of Proposition 98.
“The Legislature agreed to the governor’s deal,” Plotkin told the delegates. “School board members need to hold them both to the agreement. Our schools need stable funding. There are many programs that are not related to ADA, yet the funding is.”
Plotkin also spoke about the disappointment that the Williams case failed to target the real issue, which is adequate school funding. A Quality Education Commission was supposed to take up the matter, but the governor has not appointed his portion of its membership. “Stay tuned,” said Plotkin, promising that CSBA will take the lead in having the “right conversation” about the funding needs of California’s schools. “No option will be overlooked, including a lawsuit, if necessary,” he said.
Leaders elected
Luan Rivera, a board member in the Ramona Unified School District, was confirmed as President-elect and will assume the presidency at the conclusion of the annual conference in 2005. “CSBA’s leadership in determining policy decisions on a state and national level is more crucial than ever during these difficult and challenging times,” she said. “We need to work together diligently to protect the financial viability of our schools and to ensure that programs and reforms really do serve the best interests of our children.”
Dr. Kathleen Kinley, Chaffey Joint Union High School District trustee and an 8-year member of the CSBA Board of Directors for Region 16, was elected Vice President.
As the director representing the state’s largest geographic region – as well as being a former teacher, communications specialist and principal in addition to board member – Kinley said she is well prepared to share insights about high school reform, funding challenges, and a variety of achievement and accountability issues.
“Our goal of improving student achievement is made more difficult in a time of budget cuts and declining enrollment in over 400 California school districts, and demands for local and county boards to be more accountable are set in a climate of attempts to erode local control,” said Kinley. “As CSBA Vice President, I will advocate for district and county board members as we meet these challenges together.”
Ben Liao of the Cupertino Union School District has made student mental health one of his key issues as the new Director-at-large, Asian Pacific Islander. One in 10 teens has considered suicide, he says. “This is a startling number. We need to provide help and guidance for them.” Additionally, API youth experience pressure from both American culture and the immigrant culture of their parents. Liao would also like to expand students’ exposure to other world cultures and geography.
Dr. Susan M. Heredia, a board member in the Natomas Unified School District north of Sacramento, is the new Director-at-large, Hispanic. Heredia is a professor of bilingual/multicultural education at California State University, Sacramento. “As an educator,” she said, “I am passionate in my belief that all students must be afforded the type of education that will open the doors to opportunities.”
The incumbent directors in even-numbered regions were reconfirmed by the Delegate Assembly. Other new directors include Cindy Marks from Modesto City Schools in Region 8; Martha Fluor from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District representing Region 15; Sharon Jones from La Mesa-Spring Valley School District in Region 17; and the new CCBE president is Barbara Thomas.