Vantage Point: 2005: It was what it was 

“It is what it is.”

With that phrase our Executive Director, Scott P. Plotkin, has often been heard responding to the laments of school board members and staff over what could have been a productive year if only the governor had not decided to take on the teachers and education as the fall guys for the state’s woes. It simply expresses the philosophy that, as educators, we take each year’s issues and deal with them regardless. But it also conveys CSBA’s commitment to move the organization’s agenda forward in spite of the side issues generated by politics. Thus, I look back on my year as your President with the same aplomb.

Let me recount some of our successes this past year. Acknowledging that a great deal of effort was expended fighting the governor’s budget, and that an extraordinary amount of resources was spent defeating the governor’s initiatives, we can mark that success as a reaffirmation of the public’s support for public education and a clear message that reform needs to take place legislatively. I also think it sends a clear message that reformation is not a process of deconstructing and reconstructing the system as the governor envisions, but rather a process of building on the best by eliminating what doesn’t work and creating new ways to accomplish our goals.

In February and April this year, CSBA had two successful trips to Washington, D.C. for the National School Boards Association’s Federal Relations Network Conference and our own Federal Issues Council. As in prior years, we were a strong voice for reform of the No Child Left Behind Act and, more importantly, a strong voice for reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act in the face of President Bush’s proposed reallocation of those funds to high school reform. Clearly, Congress agreed with the educational community and reauthorized Perkins intact. In addition, Gov. Schwarzenegger has realized the importance of a well-educated workforce and the value of career technical education, signing Senate Bill 50 by Jack Scott, D-Altadena, which allocates $20 million for CTE partnerships with community colleges. In addition, at our May Delegate Assembly, representatives from the Northern California Carpenters Union and the National Electrical Contractors Association had members of their apprenticeship programs share their personal stories. The resulting interest and enthusiasm by our delegates has fostered an important partnership with these groups to work on our mutual concerns over the education of our workforce and the graduation of productive citizens from our schools.

The work of the High School Reform and Science Education task forces has been completed and their recommendations are forthcoming. Not only will specific help be provided districts, but also specific recommendations for legislative action that will guide CSBA’s legislative agenda this year. Their work will be of significance as we try to build consensus on how to bring science back into the curriculum and how to provide alternative pathways for graduation.

Finally, the year culminated in one of the most engaging and successful annual education conferences that CSBA has had in recent years. From the inspiring and unique visions of the future of education by our general session speakers Juan Enriquez and Jennifer James, to the highly successful trade show, every aspect was flawless. However, most importantly, CSBA implemented a new Student Issues Conference Group model led by our Directors-at-large. These conferences will bring together board members and administrators who truly want to be engaged in eliminating the achievement gap and will provide a focal point where best practices and reforms that work can be disseminated to all boards. This may prove to be the catalyst we need to finally close the achievement gap and at the same time to get districts with similar student populations and similar challenges to share essential information.

I am amazed at how fast my year as President came to a close, but I am proud of the work CSBA has accomplished. I want to thank everyone at CSBA for their support and encouragement and I want to thank all the members of the Board of Directors for their dedication, support and hard work this year. Above all, I want to thank the hundreds of board members across the state who have participated with CSBA in advancing the wellbeing and education of the children of California. I am cautiously optimistic about the coming year as long as expectations are not set too high. In any event, know that “it will be what it will be.”