Survey reveals primary concerns, interests of CSBA members 

Who are the board members and superintendents CSBA serves? What do they see as the most pressing issues they face? And what can CSBA do to help them do their jobs better?

To find out, CSBA surveyed its members to gather new information that will help the association plan for the future and improve the services it provides. In all, 841 board members and 260 superintendents from all sizes and types of school districts and county offices of education responded to the surveys in November and December. Aurora Research Group, which conducted the board member portion of the survey, concluded that the responses are representative of CSBA members as a whole.

By far the most important issue facing school districts today, 30 percent of respondents said, is the level of school funding. Declining enrollment and closing the achievement gap were the next most important issues mentioned. Curriculum and instruction issues were No. 1 to another 10 percent of respondents. “The larger the school district, the more members were concerned about the level of school funding and closing the achievement gap. The smaller the district, the more members were concerned about declining enrollment,” noted Aurora Group researchers.

The best-known products and services that CSBA provides are, in order, the monthly California School News, California Schools quarterly magazine, the Annual Education Conference and Trade Show, and updates on pending and new legislation. More than 85 percent of members were aware of the newsletter and magazine, with a good percentage rating alternative format “publications” such as the weekly e-mail updates (43 percent) and the Web site (38 percent) as “very valuable.”

Members also indicated they are receptive to non-traditional methods for receiving continuing education: 58 percent said they would be very or somewhat likely to use materials on video, DVD or CD-ROM, and 53 percent were interested in interactive, Web-based training. Nearly seven in 10 members prefer to receive materials from CSBA via e-mail. The most valuable services CSBA provides, members said, were:

1. updates on pending and new legislation;
2. the Institute for New and First-Term Board Members;
3. information on legal cases and changes;
4. legislative representation and advocacy;
5. legal advocacy by the Education Legal Alliance; and
6. GAMUT Online policy services.

Overall, the vast majority — 86 percent — of respondents felt that CSBA was serving their needs.

“CSBA takes the results of such periodic member surveys very seriously,” said Marketing Director Marci McFadden. A 2003 survey of California School News readers resulted in a complete redesign of the publication, which won an award from the Association for Educational Publishers for most improved periodical in 2004.

Further results of the CSBA 2005 Member Survey will soon be available.