CSBA eyes tenure reform, other issues in 2006 

The California School Boards Association will take the lead on teacher tenure reform and safeguarding the interests of students in charter schools when the state Legislature reconvenes for the new year. CSBA’s Board of Directors, meeting in San Diego last month in advance of the Annual Education Conference, agreed that voters’ rejection of a flawed Proposition 74 in November did not end the need for meaningful reform of teacher tenure policies. The Board voted to sponsor legislation based on a recommendations of a 1995 CSBA Task Force on Teacher Tenure. Suggested changes include:

• Permitting the district to grant permanency at the end of either the first or second year, if the district management determines a teacher’s performance warrants it.
• After the teacher’s second year, authorizing the district to extend the probationary period for an additional one or two years, if the district determines that additional time or experience is needed before a decision regarding permanency can be made.
• After four years, requiring the district to either grant permanency or elect not to rehire the teacher.

Charter petitions

CSBA will sponsor two pieces of legislation with respect to charter schools. The most significant would allow districts to consider the fiscal impacts of decisions regarding charter petitions; another proposal would authorize school districts to require charter schools to provide free and reduced-price meals, just as traditional public schools are already required to do. The fiscal impact of charter schools on traditional schools is significant, and growing. The shift of students to charters reduces districts’ average daily attendance funding, eroding their ability to staff and maintain adequate instructional facilities. Some districts have even been forced to close schools, especially in areas with declining enrollment. To counter this, CSBA will sponsor legislation to allow a district to deny a charter petition if it would have a negative financial impact on the district.

Purchasing cooperatives

School districts in California have been prohibited from joining purchasing cooperatives that use “piggyback” contracts that extend beyond state lines when the districts cannot verify that other states’ bid requirements have been met. CSBA will seek changes to the California Public Contracts Code to free districts to pool their buying power to get the lowest prices on goods and supplies without having to verify that other jurisdictions’ bidding requirements have been satisfied.