Toughest job in local elected office
THERE is no harder job in local elected office than that of school board member.
Let me say that again: Being a school board member is the toughest job in local elected office. You have to balance budgets not once but twice in a school year. You have no control over your revenues because they are provided by the state (thanks to Prop.
13). When school buildings crumble, you have to ask voters to support bond measures and pay for them for 30 years. You have to know about schools, kids, education, building, construction, bonds, personnel, the list goes on and on. And the public?
It's not easy calming a parent whose child has been wronged.
I sincerely hope you vote on Nov. 3 for the best candidates and if you need help, follow the suggestions in the "Our View" section.
During these past five weeks, our editorial board has been interviewing candidates running for school boards throughout the San Gabriel Valley and Southeast Los Angeles County. It's been a lot like going to class; I've learned a lot. Here are some of the tidbits I've taken away from these meetings:
● A large number of students are English Learners, or ELs. In their homes, English is not spoken so they must learn English as a second language in order to do well in reading and writing but also in social studies, history and all classes. It was disturbing to hear some candidates say some students enter Kindergarten as ELs and remain as ELs when they are seniors in high school! Too many never progress out of the EL category. Part of that is due to funding. Seems like districts get more money if they have more ELs.
● Forty-five different languages are spoken in the households of the El Monte Union High School District
● The California State University system will be cutting enrollment by 40,000 students this year. Guess what? Those transfer students from local community colleges (PCC, Mt.
SAC, Rio Hondo College, Citrus College, East Los Angeles College) may no longer be guaranteed a spot at a CSU as a junior. Though the CSUs are not saying that officially, there is talk of going back on that promise. Scary.
● School districts are not just for kids anymore. One of the newest trends is the increasing number of adults taking classes in our unified or high school districts. Adult schools are filled with people learning English or a trade. For example, the El Monte Union High School District has 25,000 adults and 11,000 high school kids.
School districts should be supported in this endeavor, especially during high unemployment.
● Where have all the children gone? Almost every school district candidate that has come into my office is from a district that's losing children. Some are seeing several hundred fewer students per year. It's called declining enrollment and it's mostly due to foreclosures, unemployment and before that, the high price of real estate. Younger familes are moving to the high desert and the Inland Empire. The result is an aging population in the SGV. Two exceptions I've found are West Covina Unified and Temple City Unified, which are experiencing increasing enrollment.
● Ever wonder why superinendents or college presidents who leave usually get a year or two in pay, costing the district taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars? State law says districts must guarantee a superintendent 18 months -- some get 3 years -- on their contract. Perhaps that law should change.
steve.scauzillo@sgvn.com
Comments
you no little of what goes on in these little elect school boards.
You should consistently attend board meetings. A lot of tax dollars are at stake
and wasted in charter oak.
the money gets consumed with little noticed.
Charter Oak historically has had back biting and in fighting.
These people in Charter Oak are still have hard fillings about close Royal High School.
The President of Pasadena College receives a pay of about 182,000. per year and over see's the management of Full &Part Student, Full academic staff, Facility staff,
business staff and acres of plant facilities in total overseeing the function of about 45,000 people combined(students and employees).
Charter Oak is a district of about 5,300 and dwindling students and on the high end employees 600 people.
The Charter Oak superintend receives about $182,000 per year and over the the the activities of about 6,000 people (students and employees).
The Charter Oak Superintend will receive $1000,000.(one million)
dollars after completing
his five year contract extensions as an employee.
You may find the need to defend superintends pay-
to us its a value issue-
goods and services for $$$$ and A morale issue.
The word receive is used,
because we are not sure if the superintend will earn the $1000,000.
Posted by: C.O.certificated employee | October 17, 2009 4:15 PM
you no little of what goes on in these little elect school boards.
You should consistently attend board meetings. A lot of tax dollars are at stake
and wasted in charter oak.
the money gets consumed with little noticed.
Charter Oak historically has had back biting and in fighting.
These people in Charter Oak are still have hard fillings about close Royal High School.
The President of Pasadena College receives a pay of about 182,000. per year and over see's the management of Full &Part Student, Full academic staff, Facility staff,
business staff and acres of plant facilities in total overseeing the function of about 45,000 people combined(students and employees).
Charter Oak is a district of about 5,300 and dwindling students and on the high end employees 600 people.
The Charter Oak superintend receives about $182,000 per year and oversees the activities of about 6,000 people (students and employees).
The Charter Oak Superintend will receive $1000,000.(one million)
dollars after completing
his five year contract extensions as an employee.
You may find the need to defend superintends pay-
to us its a value issue-
goods and services for $$$$ and A morale issue.
The word receive is used,
because we are not sure if the superintend will earn the $1000,000.
Posted by: C.O.certificated employee | October 17, 2009 4:20 PM
I agree. To be a member of any public school board is a very tough and mostly unpopular position. It requires an individual or the whole to possess more than dry pragmatic bean counters or pure academics. There has to be a deep credible understanding of what it is to be completely challenged by the inability to conform. The reality of not having resources in public school to provide children with a customized education is no longer the elephant under the rug. The word is out. These shortcomings require administrators and school board members to be able to prioritize based on student needs and what is most pressing and important for the greater good of our society.
Doesn't it all boil down to love, like everything else? One who really has the heart, intent for the betterment of our community's future, and the skills to understand how to implement policy?
Would Michael Eisner build the Disney empire without being paid the millions he gets? Would he ever sacrifice a few of those beans for the love of the mouse? No. He doesn't have any pride in the mouse's success. He doesn't subscribe to pride being its own reward. He doesn't give a wink about that mouse. Money and more money is all he cares about and we can all see it.
What a poor role model and boy, did I get sidetracked.
My point is, there are sometimes ways to get things done by not giving up on them just because the money isn't there. There are some people that know how to role up their sleeves and think it through. We need more of those kinds of people in the world than selfish, narrow, shallow Eisners.
Don't ask me why I am so mad about Eisner. It must have something to do with the current quality of the ABC News broadcast I just watched. Hideous.
Good work, Steve! Thanks for reporting and opining.
Posted by: D. Thaddius Patrizzi | October 20, 2009 6:42 PM
dude, u still know nothin that goes on in the school districts. u think that by talking to a-wipes about what they want to do is going to make you an expert? BS. These people tell you want you want to hear. They've been punkin ou in all these "meetings." When you go day in and day out to school boasrd meetings and find out how these a-wipes reall run things, for their friends andthemselves, then you can tell us to look at your views, and for that u are the biggest a-wipe around because you really dont know what u talkin about willis. these politicians have always punked your paper and you always end up with egg on your face. so intead do real research and stop kissin A that talks nice to you, a-wipe.
Posted by: whatyoutalkinboutwillis | October 21, 2009 8:12 PM