While NSEA appreciates the intent to improve the professionalism and standing of school boards, the mechanism in AB156 is the wrong one at this time. NSEA engaged at yesterday’s meeting of the K-12 Budget Subcommittee, asking that committee to reject the Governor’s proposed $2 per pupil budget increase. During the hearing, we learned that adjusted base pupil funding for CCSD, the funds that would be used to pay for trustee compensation under this bill, actually decreases from this year to next! The nearly $1M price tag to the district is difficult to swallow, given the reductions in services now being contemplated by CCSD.
That doesn’t mean that the important work of school trustees shouldn’t be better compensated. NSEA supports tying trustee compensation to that of a starting teacher, and this should not be limited to CCSD but apply to all districts. Since just about all funds for education now run through the pupil-centered funding formula, trustee compensation should be funded with a budget enhancement up until the time the state reaches either the national average or optimal funding as identified by the Commission on School Funding.
Additionally, NSEA has consistently advocated for the inclusion of educator voice in the decisions that impact us. Preventing active educators from serving on their school board takes away one of the most important and knowledgeable stakeholder voices from these deliberative bodies. NSEA believes incorporating educator voice onto school boards would go a long way to increase the professionalism, productivity, and standing of our county school boards.
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