Adventures in Ed Funding

Have you had a chance yet to check out the Budgeting for Educational Equity podcast? We're sharing the latest episode here because it delves into a subject near and dear to anyone interested in California education funding: the Local Control Funding Formula, or LCFF, which was adopted in 2013.The LCFF is regarded by many as the most significant resource equity reform the state has ever enacted. It definitely ushered in a new era of school funding for school districts. But how has the LCFF actually worked? Has it accomplished what it was intended to? And how are some of the inherent tensions between local and state decision making authority, oversight and accountability being navigated? In this episode, series host Jason Willis and special guests explore key elements of the LCFF: Mike Kirst, former State Board of Education President, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, and chief architect of the LCFF under Gov. Jerry Brown, offers a remarkable glimpse into the development of the formula, including some of the difficult choices, innovative thinking and pragmatic considerations that went into creating the new law.Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez provides a review of the law, based on her unique perspective both as a locally elected school board member in Azusa USD and as Deputy Director for Californians Together, a statewide group that advocates on behalf of English Learner students.  Xilonin also serves as immediate past president of the California School Boards Association.And Richard De Nava, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, shares insights about the policy and practical implications of the LCFF. Richard also serves as president of CASBO. *More resourcesNEW: "What's Next for the LCFF," report by Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), November 2021NEW: "Targeted K-12 Funding and Student Outcomes," PPIC Policy Brief, October 2021"Why the LCFF? California's Landmark Move to an Equity-Based School Funding Formula," from the Adventures in Ed Funding CASBO podcast, March, 2020. "Here's How LCFF Works," Ed100.org lesson on the Local Control Funding Formula.*Subscribe to the Budgeting for Educational Equity series at:Apple podcasts SpotifyGoogleCASBO podcastsWestEd podcastsMore...Follow the Budgeting for Ed Equity podcast on Twitter at: @budget4edequityBudgeting for Educational Equity is presented by the California Association of School Business Official (CASBO) and WestEd. The series is written and produced by Paul Richman and Jason Willis. Original music, mixing and sound by Tommy Dunbar. John Diaz at WestEd  develops the written briefs that go along with each episode.

We're excited to share with you this first episode of a new limited series podcast presented in collaboration by WestEd and CASBO. It's called Budgeting for Educational Equity.About this new seriesHow can dedicated teams of educators, administrators, school business officials and entire school communities allocate resources to better meet the needs of all their students -- especially at this watershed moment when student needs have never been greater due to the pandemic and an influx of additional federal and state dollars available to support transformative change? That's the story we're here to share.In this first "introductory" episode, host Jason Willis, director of strategic resource planning and implementation for WestEd and a former chief business official in several California school districts, invites guest experts, advocates and school district leaders to share how they think about and define resource equity in education as a way to help us get our "resource equity bearings." Subscribe to the new episode at:Apple podcasts SpotifyGoogleMore... Guests in this episode include:Christopher Edley, Jr., J.D., interim dean, U.C. Berkeley Graduate School of Education; co-founder and president emeritus of The Opportunity Institute; professor and dean emeritus, U.C. Berkeley School of Law; former professor, Harvard Law School; and co-chair, National Commission on K-12 Excellence & EquityMaria Echaveste, J.D., president and CEO, The Opportunity Institute; and former White House deputy chief of staffJayne Christakos, former chief business officer, San Bernardino City Unified School DistrictMarguerite Williams, Ed.D., former assistant superintendent of educational services, Adelanto Elementary School District; and former senior director of equity and diversity, Association of California School AdministratorsAdela Madrigal Jones, superintendent, Sanger Unified School DistrictMichael Kirst, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University; and past president, California State Board of EducationBudgeting for Educational Equity is presented by the California Association of School Business Official (CASBO), the premier resource for professional development and best practices for more than 24,000 California school business leaders, in partnership with WestEd, a national nonprofit research development and service agency that works to promote excellence and equity in education. Join the conversation on Twitter at @Budget4EdEquity Budgeting for Educational Equity is written and produced by Paul Richman (your trusty guide on "Adventures in Ed Funding") and Jason Willis. 

It has been exactly a year since we launched the Adventures in Ed Funding series. And what a year it was! In addition to our focus on school finance, we also produced additional episodes with timely information and stories to help schools and communities navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. In total, our first season included 36 shows. Here's a quick look back at just a few of the highlights during a difficult time when we've all learned so much.Note: We’re currently taking a break from production. We'll be back soon with an update on some exciting developments for the next season.****For the latest information about education and school business, be sure to check out CASBO Connect, the new podcast series hosted by chief business officials and CASBO leaders Eric Dill and Tina Douglas.****Guests featured in this episode include:Samantha Tran, Managing Director of Education, Children NowEpisode 1, February 7: “California schools: Where the adults aren’t.”Elizabeth Esquivel, Senior Director of Policy and Governance for CASBO Episode 9, March 20: “School Closures Due to Covid-19: What you should know.”Paulo Azevedo, Director of Maintenance. Operations, Transportation and Facilities, San Ysidro School District, San Diego CountyEpisode 16, May 7: “A Clean Restart for California's Schools.”Amy Rovai Gregory, Principal, Greer Elementary in San Juan USD, Sacramento CountyEpisode 25, July 27: "A Back to School Like None Before."Linda Darling-Hammond, President, California Board of EducationEpisode 26, August 2: “Checking in with Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond.”Diane Deshler, CASBO Vice-President and Chief Business Official, Lafayette School District in Contra Costa CountyEpisode 27, August 9: "Back to School Safety and Planning: A View From the CBO’s Chair."Paul Gothold, San Diego County Superintendent of SchoolsEpisode 34, November 3: “California Schools Put to the Test.”ABOUT the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org for the latest budget news and more information about the many valuable professional development programs. Follow on Twitter at @CASBOABOUT YOUR GUIDEYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Follow on Twitter at @pjr100. Contact us at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

What has it been like for school district human resources departments during these many months of pandemic? What are key challenges faced and lessons learned from recruiting, hiring and negotiating in a virtual environment? In this episode, special guest Norma Gonzales, Assistant Superintendent of HR and Interim Associate Superintendent of Business Services in Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento, helps us explore HR topics essential to school district operations.Human Resources, as Norma says, is all about people. But at a time when we are so often physically distanced, it's more vital than ever to try to carry out the various HR functions in ways that maintain personal connections with those around us.Norma is an HR expert who has served in leadership positions for several school districts and a county office of education during the past two decades. She joined Washington USD in April 2019. The district, which is situated in Yolo County just across the river from the state's capital, has more than 7,000 students spread across elementary, middle and high school campuses and nearly 800 employees.Norma offers insight into:How HR operations in her district have changed since March;The issue staff has been bringing up most often to the HR team;How recruiting and hiring new staff is happening remotely;Early lessons learned from conducting collective bargaining negotiations virtually; andMeeting the potential need for substitute teachers during this time.Plus, Norma shares some tips about virtual interviews for those who may be seeking a new position -- and she describes what she's most looking forward to once we are all past this pandemic.Norma also served as one of the presenters for the recent CASBO Human Resources Summit and discussed tips for conducting investigations during the pandemic. Find more information about that and all of the latest professional development offerings at www.casbo.org/learn.Follow on Twitter: @NormaVGonzales1Contact at: ngonzales@wusd.k12.ca.usABOUT the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org for the latest budget news and more information about the many valuable professional development programs, including the new CASBO Work Wise Webinar Series. Follow on Twitter at @CASBOABOUT YOUR GUIDEYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Follow on Twitter at @pjr100. Contact us at edfundingca@gmail.com

The latest state budget outlook. Fiscal implications for schools. Safely reopening campuses. Tips for successful negotiations. These topics and more were on the table when school business leaders and state fiscal experts gathered remotely the week before Thanksgiving for CASBO's CBO Symposium. We can't possibly convey all the insights and information packed into those two days. But in this episode we do bring you highlights, key takeaways and a flavor for this year’s event.The Symposium coincided with release of the State Legislative Analyst Office's latest Budget Fiscal Outlook, which projects a dramatic rebound in overall state revenues in the current budget year, and a $13.7 billion increase in funds available to schools and community colleges. That's cause for much optimism, though budget experts recommend a healthy amount of caution as well, since the outlook in future years remains cloudy with potential deficits. Hear highlights as Symposium presenters including Edgar Cabral, Deputy for K-12 Education at the Legislative Analyst's Office, Michael Fine, CEO of FCMAT, Sara Bachez, CASBO Chief Governmental Relations Officer, Kevin Gordon, President of Capitol Advisors, John Gray, President of School Services of California, and nationally regarded economist Robert Kleinhenz shed light on key economic indicators, budget projections, payment deferrals, other vital aspects of the state budget deal -- and they explore how school districts might approach planning.We also listen in as CBOs and other school business leaders share how their different districts are navigating the pandemic and related fiscal challenges. For even more information on safely reopening schools, also check out this recent webinar hosted by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, COVID-19 Updates and Public Schools: A Conversation with State Public Health Leaders.ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org for the latest budget news and more information about the many valuable professional development programs, including the new CASBO Work Wise Webinar Series. Follow on Twitter at @CASBOYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Follow on Twitter at @pjr100. Contact us at edfundingca@gmail.com

Despite the pandemic, California students are beginning to return to campuses for in-person instruction. In this episode, we connect with education leaders in San Diego and Napa counties to explore how schools in their regions are addressing key guidelines for reopening safely, including partnering with their county health departments to test employees for the COVID-19 virus.OUR GUESTS: Dr. Paul Gothold, San Diego County Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Gothold was appointed County Superintendent in 2017, after four years leading Lynwood USD in Los Angeles County. He has more than 25 years of experience in K-12 education with a focus on building school systems with equity at the core. Josh Schultz, Deputy Superintendent and Chief Business Official for the Napa County Office of Education. Josh has served in the Napa COE for the past 12 years. Prior to that he served as a director in the office of research at Sonoma State University. He also taught high school for seven years in Napa County. When and how best to safely reopen our schools for in-person instruction remains top of mind for students, families, educators, communities, and the whole state. It has also become highly politicized. Under California's color-tiered monitoring system, schools in many counties across the state are now eligible to resume in-person classes, as long as they follow guidelines for safety and physical distancing -- and many students are indeed back on campuses. Josh and Paul share challenges to reopening in their counties, strategies being utilized to address them, and protocols in place for when positive cases occur. Also, series host Paul Richman shares a few highlights from recent informational hearings in the state legislature.Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance, Tuesday, October 27th, 2020Senate Joint Hearing Education and Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response CommitteesJUST OUT: To help organizations, including schools, increase COVID-19 testing capacity, on Nov. 4 the California Department of Public Health issued a letter to school leaders and a Playbook regarding the new Valencia Laboratory state partnership. MORE RESOURCESCalifornia’s COVID-19 website – COVID-19.ca.govCalifornia Department of Education Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance – CDE.CA.govABOUT the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALSCASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Be sure to visit CASBO.org and check the “Learn” tab for more information about our many valuable professional development programs; @CASBOYour series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant; @pjr100. Contact us at edfundingca@gmail.com

How do education stakeholders, political leaders and policy experts view California’s school funding system and what would it take to come together around a comprehensive, coordinated effort to increase funding in California? In this new episode, we explore these and other timely topics with Jason Willis and Carrie Hahnel, two co-authors of “Securing and protecting education funding in California,” a new study from Policy Analysis in California Education (PACE).The report includes a great primer on California's education finance system -- and it provides an excellent frame for thinking about and addressing California’s school funding challenges. New Resource: CA School Funding Crisis Explained in 12 ChartsWe discuss several of the study’s key findings and recommendations – and we use the study as a springboard to engage Carrie and Jason in some “big-picture” conversation about the future of funding in California. Topics include:The political choices and will that drive funding policiesWhy is a new master plan for education funding needed and what would it do?The value of “cross-segment” planningTransparency and accountability in school funding, and more.ABOUT OUR GUESTSCarrie Hahnel is an independent researcher and consultant and a fellow with The Opportunity Institute. Her work focuses on education policy, including school finance, accountability, and ways in which policies and systems can mitigate racial and socioeconomic inequities. Previously, Carrie served nine years at The Education Trust-West, where she led research and policy work. carrie@theopportunityinstitute.orgJason Willis is Director of Strategy & Performance in the Comprehensive School Assistance Program at WestEd, a nonprofit research, development and service agency, where he oversees and guides performance and accountability practice to support state and school district efforts. Previously, he served as budget director, chief financial officer and assistant superintendent in the Oakland, Stockton and San Jose unified school districts, respectively. jwillis@wested.orgYour series guide, Paul Richman, is a public education advocate and consultant. edfundingca@gmail.com; follow at @pjr100Policy Analysis in California Education (PACE) is an independent, nonpartisan research partnership among five CA higher education institutions that seeks to make research accessible and bring evidence to bear on the most critical issues facing our state. MORE RESOURCES"Silent Recession: Why California School Districts are Underwater Despite Increases in Funding," 2018, WestEd Why Investing in Public Education is Crucial to California's COVID-19 Recovery, Episode 15 ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Learn more at CASBO.org; follow at @CASBO

Economic development and public policy trailblazer Lenny Mendonca -- who most recently served as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Chief Economic and Business Advisor -- takes us inside the administration’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz) and shares insights on a range of vital topics, including: the shape of California’s economic recovery the future of workK-12 and higher education alignmentschool fundingthe importance of leaders making space to openly discuss mental health, and of coursethe impact of the COVID-19 crisis on just about everything. ABOUT OUR GUESTLenny Mendonca grew up in Turlock in California’s Central Valley. He received his MBA and certificate in public management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he now serves as a lecturer. He holds an AB, magna cum laude, in economics from Harvard College.As a senior partner emeritus with the global consulting firm McKinsey and Company, he has worked with public sector, nonprofit and corporate clients, and developed expertise in areas such as globalization, economic development, regulation and education. Lenny has chaired and served on numerous statewide, national and regional nonprofit boards and coalitions, such as California Forward, New America, Bay Area Council and Children Now (to name just a few) to help advance ambitious budget, education and governance reforms. Soon after being elected in November 2018, Gavin Newsom appointed Lenny as Chief Economic and Business Advisor to the Governor, a position he served in until April of this year, when he stepped down for health reasons. Lenny lives on the Half Moon Bay coast with his wife, Christine. They raised their two daughters, Allie and Rebecca, there and are the founders and owners of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company and the Mavericks Beer Company.LEARN MOREGovernor’s Future of Work CommissionRegions Rise Together initiative“I faced a challenge one out of every three people in America has: depression and anxiety,” guest commentary by Lenny Mendonca, July 2020 CalMattersQUOTABLE“California is a state with radically different economies, radically different industries, radically different challenges. It was true before the environment that we're in today and this pandemic accelerates it: We need to have a closer integration between understanding what the future of work looks like, what jobs will be available and how to ensure that everyone in the state has the educational experience to succeed."ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business.Follow at @CASBOABOUT YOUR SERIES GUIDE Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

Time is running out for Congress and the President to reach a deal that provides additional coronavirus relief funding for states and schools before the end of the year. In this episode, Kevin Gordon, President of Capitol Advisors Group, offer a timely take on the political dynamics in Washington D.C., and the potential implications for California’s classrooms and state budget. Will additional relief be approved? What key differences between the U.S. Senate, the House and the White House must still be worked out? Congress passed the CARES stimulus package in late March, but since then it has failed to reach an agreement on a much-needed new round of relief. This week the Republican-led U.S. Senate headed back into session to resume deliberations on a new bill. Previously in May, the Democrat-led House of Representatives passed a new $3 trillion relief proposal, the HEROES Act, which has not been taken up in the Senate. Both the House and Senate have been considering committing about $70-$100 billion of a total new package to help stabilize school budgets, with varying requirements.Kevin assesses the budget and policy differences between Senate and House proposals to date – and the political calculations that both Democrats and Republicans are making during this election year. Plus, what is the impact on California’s budget, which is counting on additional federal relief, if no new package is approved?KEY RESOURCEAugust 20 CASBO webinar: “On the Road to the Next Federal Relief Package” with federal advocate Bob Canavan, principal of Federal Management Strategies, in which we discuss proposed funding to support schools; potential policy changes to reopening schools; and the need to stabilize state and local K-12 budgets.MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTWidely viewed among the top education advocates in California, Kevin is the President and a founding partner of Capitol Advisors Group. He formerly served as Executive Director of CASBO, and as the Chief Lobbyist and Assistant Executive Director of the California School Boards Association (CSBA). He also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Robert T. Matsui and as a legislative advocate for the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). He holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. Kevin also provided a “Brief Hike Through Proposition 98 and School Funding History in California” on Episode 3 of our podcast series.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business.Follow at @CASBOABOUT YOUR SERIES GUIDE Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

On the last night of August, the California State Legislature wrapped up its 2019-2020 legislative session in a flurry. Many bills were passed and sent to the Governor, but several difficult issues were left unresolved. In this episode, CASBO’s dynamic team of advocates Sara Bachez and Elizabeth Esquivel share highlights. What were some of the legislature’s final actions (or inactions)? What are potential education budget and fiscal implications? And what is a frenzied last night of session in Sacramento really like, especially during this time of physical distancing?Plus, Palm Springs USD Nutrition Services Director Stephanie Bruce joins us again to describe some recent good news out of Washington D.C. related to school meals.KEY RESOURCESFor details about education and budget bills that were (or were not) passed out of the legislature, read CASBO's "End of the 2019-20 Legislative Session NewsBreak." This NewsBreak also includes details about Gov. Newsom's new “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” released on Aug. 28. Additional information about budget and finance bills discussed on this episode:SB 115 -- Makes technical amendments to K-12 education and early education associated with the Budget Act of 2020.SB 820 -- Makes clarifying changes to education programs adopted as part of the Budget Act of 2020. These changes are described in more detail in the CASBO Newsbreak: New Education Budget Changes are Released in SB 820"Legislature fixes funding problem for growing districts and some charter schools," Sept. 2 EdSource article by John Fensterwald"USDA Extends Free Meals for Kids Through Dec. 31, 2020" press release from USDAOUR GUESTS:Sara Bachez, CASBO Chief Government Relations Officer Elizabeth Esquivel, CASBO Senior Director of Policy and GovernanceStephanie Bruce, Nutrition Services Director, Palm Springs USD. Learn more about Stephanie on our March episode, "The Meals Must Go On"Plus a cameo appearance by Jeff Vaca, Chief Governmental Relations Officer, Riverside County Office of EducationABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officialsis the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. YOUR SERIES GUIDEPaul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. edfundingca@gmail.com and @pjr100

Veteran local school board member Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez helps us explore the education landscape during and after COVID-19 from a local governance perspective. What has worked well? What big challenges remain? How are local school boards navigating safety and instructional guidelines and finding new ways to engage their communities in a physical-distance environment? Plus, given the natural push and pull that exists between local and state decision-making authority, we pose the question: Has California been striking the right balance during this crisis to best meet the needs of our students and communities? Recently on the podcast we’ve highlighted important lessons learned by students, teachers, superintendents, chief business officials, state leaders and more. Xilonin, who also serves as President of the California School Boards Association, adds her insight from the local governing board perspective. She offers cautious optimism that, despite the current moment, California can ultimately achieve full and fair school funding for students. Xilonin also emphasizes the importance for boards of transparency, constant and clear communication and involving all stakeholders – plus, making decisions using an equity frame. ABOUT OUR GUESTXilonin Cruz-Gonzalez has served as a school board member since 2001 in Azusa USD in Los Angeles County. She currently serves as CSBA President and has served as past president of the California Latino School Boards Association. In addition, she is the Deputy Director for Californians Together, a statewide coalition focused on the goal of better educating California’s 1.1 million English Learners by improving schools and promoting equitable educational policy. Xilonin is proud to be both a fifth-generation Azusa resident and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant. Read more about Xilonin in this interview. MORE RESOURCESCASBO webinars and resources related to COVID-19Other Adventures in Ed Funding episodes:Back to School Planning: A View From the CBO’s ChairChecking In with State Board President Linda Darling HammondA Student, Teacher and Principal Reflect on Going Back to SchoolCDPH Re-Opening In-Person Learning Framework, July“Unprecedented times call for sharing our best work," CSBA blog article by Xilonin Cruz-GonzalezCoronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance website, CDECSBA Distance Learning and Reopening Schools webinars: medium and large districts and small districts and county officesABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Share your feedback at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

As California school districts work to safely reopen schools during COVID-19, the alarming specter of costly litigation looms, even as districts follow all state and local health and safety guidelines. In this episode, Santa Clara USD Chief Business Official Eric Dill helps us wade through the murky liability waters brought on by the pandemic. We explore some basics about school district insurance and risk management, and the implications for students, educators and taxpayers of potential COVID-19 litigation. Plus, we'll hear how Assembly Bill 1384, introduced by Assembly Education Committee Chair Patrick O'Donnell, could provide much-needed, temporary legal protection for school districts during this most perilous time. It's a matter of urgency, Eric explains, for legislators to act on AB 1384 before the legislative session ends. "In public education, insurance dollars are public dollars. That same LCFF funding that goes to school districts to hire teachers, buy mobile devices, buy textbooks -- it's the same funding that we have to carve out for insurance," Eric says. "When our losses go up, our premiums go up, and that means fewer dollars are left for our core mission of preparing students for college, careers and the community. This is why everyone needs to be concerned when we are exposed to liability for doing what is a constitutional requirement."MORE INFO and VALUABLE RESOURCESReopening California's Schools: A SISC and Kern CSS Discussion on Liability Issues to Consider, CASBO Summer Series WebinarCoalition Letter from 230-plus organizations in Support of AB 1384Letter signed by 40+ legislators urging a hearing for AB 1384COVID-19 lawsuits: a school district worry, EdSource podcast episodeCalifornia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs, June 5, 2020ABOUT OUR GUESTEric Dill is the Chief Business Official in Santa Clara USD; he'll begin a new role as CBO at Santa Clara COE next month. Previously Eric served for more than 16 years in San Dieguito Union HSD in several positions, including superintendent, associate superintendent of business services, director of risk management and as a loss control analyst. He began his career in private sector risk management. He is a proud graduate of San Diego State University. He also serves on the CASBO Board of Directors. Learn more about Eric in the CASBO Career Chronicle.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officialsis the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Share your feedback at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

What are some of the vital operational elements that school business leaders must keep moving forward and aligned as their districts implement school safety and back to school plans? In this episode, Lafayette School District Chief Business Official and CASBO Vice President Diane Deshler helps us explore the ongoing work of a school business office during these days of pandemic and economic crisis. How has her school district approached planning and navigated changing circumstances? What types of health and safety protocols are being put in place and what guidance is available if a new outbreak occurs? What are some implications for human resources and collective bargaining? And what keeps CBOs like Diane awake at night? This insightful journey will help illuminate these and other timely topics. Plus, we'll discuss new Learning Loss and Mitigation Funds and learn about Diane's somewhat unusual (and tasty) pathway into public education and becoming a CBO. KEY RESOURCE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Reopening California's Schools: A FCMAT Discussion on Understanding & Planning for Federal Funding -- CASBO Webinar with Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team CEO Michael FineOTHER VALUABLE LINKS:Reopening California's Schools: A Discussion on Political Insights for 2020-21 -- Webinar with CASBO's Governmental Relations team, Sara Bachez and Elizabeth EsquivelCalifornia Department of Education's Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance webpageABOUT OUR GUESTDiane Deshler is the Chief Business Official (CBO) at Lafayette School District, which serves about 3,500 Kindergarten through eighth-grade students in Contra Costa County in Northern California. She also serves as CASBO Vice President and has been a member of CASBO for 24 years. She is a graduate of the University of California, San Diego. Following college and working at a publishing company, Diane changed her career focus and attended professional chef school in California and Paris, France. Diane worked at Chez Panisse in Berkeley as the Pastry Chef, and at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in Marin County as Head Chef. Her path to serving students started with her interest in student nutrition and school lunch. From working in school lunch to a variety of school business areas, Diane graduated from the CASBO/FCMAT CBO Mentor Program and is in her 6th year as a school district CBO. Diane grew up in the Bay Area. She currently lives in the East Bay and has two children in college; both will attend classes through distance learning as they begin the new school year. If Diane had the opportunity for vacation, she would be spending her free time in the mountains or at the beach with her family.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. Discover the many critical resources, advocacy updates and professional development opportunities at www.casbo.org.About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Share your feedback at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

She serves as President of the California State Board of Education, President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute, and is one of the nation’s leading education researchers...In this episode Dr. Linda Darling Hammond shares what’s on her mind as plans for the new school year continue to take shape. How is distance learning going? What have other countries done to re-open their campuses safely and what else should our federal government do to support efforts here? Plus, we explore the role everyone in schools plays in providing social-emotional supports to students; key objectives for the new Learning Continuity and Attendance Plans that districts must adopt before October – and fact-checking presidential tweets about education.With back to school season upon us, local and state leaders are working tirelessly to ensure as Gov. Newsom has said, “learning is non-negotiable” while prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff during this time of COVID-19.In a recent Forbes article, “The Urgency of Reopening Schools Safely,” Linda discussed what other countries are doing to re-open their school campuses. She makes the compelling case that “where these re-openings have succeeded, governments have been responsive to addressing the significant financial needs.” Yet, with nearly $2.8 trillion in federal aid dedicated to the recovery so far in the U.S., less than half of one percent of the total funding has been allocated specifically for K-12 education. MORE RESOURCESReopening California's Schools: A Discussion on Political Insights for 2020-21, CASBO webinarReopening California's Schools: A FCMAT Discussion on Understanding & Planning for Federal Funding, CASBO WebinarCDE's Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance webpageABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Linda Darling Hammond was appointed by Gov. Newsom to the State Board of Education in February 2019, and currently serves as President. She is President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), an organization that conducts and communicates independent, high-quality research to improve educational policy and practice. Linda is also the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University where she founded the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education and served as the faculty sponsor of the Stanford Teacher Education Program. She is past president of the American Educational Research Association and recipient of its awards for Distinguished Contributions to Research, Lifetime Achievement, and Research-to-Policy. Full bio here.ABOUT CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBOAbout your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. Follow at @pjr100

With so much information, guidance and politics swirling about how the new school year will begin due to COVID-19, it can feel stressful, overwhelming or in the words of one district superintendent, as if we are often “scrambling remotely.” In this episode, we invite you to – breathe in deeply and exhale slowly – as we "recenter" ourselves and connect with three truly inspiring individuals: a student, teacher and principal. Each shares unique and powerful experiences about what they are learning during the crisis and how can we build on it. Our guests also help explore how to stay focused on what matters most as this unique back to school season gets underway. MEET OUR SPECIAL GUESTSRosie Reid, National board-certified English and English language development teacher at Ygnacio High School in Mt. Diablo USD and 2019 California Teacher of the Year -- reidr@mdusd.org, @msreidenglish;Amy Rovai Gregory, Principal at Greer Elementary School in San Juan USD -- arovai@sanjuan.edu; and Angel, a high school student in Northern CaliforniaWatch more about Rosie Reid on this episode of the public TV series Inside California Education.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 23,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Follow him at @pjr100.We value your feedback! Share your comments and ideas at edfundingca@gmail.com.

Proposition 15 on the November 3, 2020 statewide ballot would generate billions in new funding for schools and other local services by changing the way commercial and industrial property taxes are assessed. How would Proposition 15 work? And how is the campaign shaping up?In this episode, guests David Goldberg, Vice-President of the 310,000-member California Teachers Association (CTA); Saa’un Bell, Strategy Director for Californians for Justice; and Tim Gage, longtime fiscal policy expert and former director of the State Department of Finance take us on a journey into the heart of Schools and Communities First.A broad-based coalition of organizations have been driving this effort. Proponents say the initiative would revise Proposition 13 (passed in 1978) to require larger, older corporate and commercial property owners to pay their fair share in property taxes. When fully implemented, the measure would generate about $11.5 billion in new revenues for education and community services, with public schools receiving about 40 percent of those new dollars. Throughout our series, we’ve examined how California, which once ranked among the top states in per-student funding prior to Proposition 13, slid into a decades-long school funding decline. We repeatedly pose the question: What will it take for California to get back among the top-spending states, so we can provide the level of resources that research shows all students need to succeed? Proposition 15 may be a critical component of that answer.ABOUT OUR GUESTSAn educator for more than 20 years, CTA Vice President David B. Goldberg has spent most of his career as a bilingual teacher at Murchison Elementary in the Los Angeles USD. In addition to serving two terms on the CTA Board, he also served as treasurer of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and was the youngest executive officer to ever hold office in that union. As a former English Language Learner student from Long Beach USD and first generation college graduate, Saa’un Bell is committed to building a public education infrastructure where all students have opportunities to fulfill their highest aspirations. Saa’un joined CFJ in 2009; currently, she oversees all communications & narrative strategy for regional and statewide campaigns. Listen to more from Saa'un about LCFF.Principal and co-founder of Blue Sky Consulting, Tim Gage is a highly regarded public servant, having spent over 24 years as a top fiscal advisor in both houses of the California Legislature and as the Director of the California Department of Finance from 1999-2003. He specializes in state-local relations and tax policy. About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback! Follow at @pjr100

The new state budget agreement will include up to $11.1 billion in K-12 payment "deferrals." But what exactly are deferrals? How do they help the state balance its budget? And what are the implications for local school districts?In this special “explainer” episode, guest Matt Phillips, director of management consulting services at School Services of California, is back to describe everything you need to know about this highly significant but seldom understood fiscal mechanism. Matt provides clear examples that will help finance-minded and non-finance-minded folks alike gain a solid grasp of the ins and outs of payment deferrals, including how they differ from budget cuts. Deferrals, Matt says, are the "lesser of two evils," but they pose their own significant complications for school districts.Given the pending adoption of a new California State Budget, this is an episode you won’t want to postpone listening to.In this episode, you'll learn:What is a payment deferral?How do deferrals help the state to balance its budget? Are deferrals similar to budget cuts?What are the implications of deferrals for school districts?Why do school districts need to pay such close attention to their "cash positions"?What options do school districts have to mitigate the impact of deferrals?Latest state budget information:CASBO Newsbreak: "Governor Newsom and Legislature Reach Budget Agreement""In California budget deal, no cuts for K-12 but billions in pate payments to schools" by John Fensterwald in EdSource, June 23, 2020About Our GuestMatt Phillips, CPA, serves as Director of Management Consulting Services at School Services. In this role, he provides support to school districts for fiscal-related matters including budget reviews, salary schedule analyses, organizational reviews, and negotiations. He also presents workshops across the state on a variety of topics including the Local Control and Accountability Plan, collective bargaining, district budgeting, and auditing. His background as a Certified Public Accountant, experience working in a school district, and completion of the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team Chief Business Official (CBO) Mentor Program that resulted in the CASBO CBO certificate provide the foundation for these areas. Matt graduated from California State University, Chico, with a degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO and @CASBOGRAbout your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback! Follow him at @pjr100

When schools start up again, we do not have to go back to business as usual in our educational system. Instead, the disruption caused by COVID-19 provides an opportunity for us all to see, engage and act differently to produce success for all students in the system, not just some. That's the call to action brought forward in this episode by our special guest Hugh Vasquez, senior associate with the National Equity Project. He says, "The crucial question confronting us at the moment, is not can we prepare to come back differently, but will we?"Hugh illuminates key points from his recent article, “What If We…Don’t Return To Business As Usual,” including strategies for encouraging collaborative inquiry across the district, and practical tips for pumping up those strategic equity leadership muscles. Who or what exactly is the “system” and how does it perpetuate inequities among students? Can the disturbance caused by COVID-19 actually push us to innovate and make change? And what are the biggest challenges to bringing about the monumental culture shift to a more equitable system? We also explore more deeply what business NOT as usual might look like in a classroom or in a district, including a shift to organizing around how students engage and project based learning.About Our GuestHugh Vasquez joined the National Equity Project as a Senior Associate in 2010 with responsibility for developing and expanding their Leading for Equity projects. He works with a range of school district and nonprofit partners to plan and implement racial equity initiatives. Previously, Hugh served as Executive Director of the San Francisco Education Fund, a non-profit working to bring educational equity to public schools. Hugh is also a partner with the Center for Diversity Leadership and the founder of the Todos Institute in Oakland, whose mission is to help individuals and groups heal from the effects of oppression, build cross-cultural alliances, and create environments where youths and adults from all cultures are honored, valued, and respected. Hugh has worked with hundreds of organizations to establish diversity initiatives and has provided training to thousands of individuals. He is a presenter with Speak Out, a national organization providing top speakers on social justice topics, and a primary cast member in the award-winning film The Color of Fear. He has co-authored the books No Boundaries: Unlearning Oppression and Building Multicultural Alliances and Making Allies Making Friends: A Curriculum For Middle Schools, as well as published various articles on strengthening cultural roots and eliminating privileged systems. Hugh has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. hvasquez@nationalequityproject.org; @hughjvasquez.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Follow at @CASBO and @CASBOGRAbout your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback! Follow him at @pjr100

What will school bus service look like when schools re-open? What will it take to get those yellow buses we all miss back on the roads?In this episode, two California school transportation experts lead us on an adventure into “Bus World.” We explore how school districts are planning to meet the many challenges posed by COVID-19 so that California students can be safely transported to and from their school campuses. Guests Matt Sanchez, Director of Transportation for Elk Grove USD and Kevin Sellstrom, Transportation Specialist in the El Dorado Union High School District, illuminate key issues and considerations for school communities, including: How new safety guidelines could dramatically impact bus service and routes Options and strategies being considered to re-start bus servicePrioritizing the needs of those who depend most on busesScheduling and routing in a time of uncertaintyKeeping buses clean and disinfectedCollaborating with all departmentsSpecial challenges for rural communities, andNavigating the difficult funding crossroads (trying to do more with less).Bus drivers are the most visible and integral part of the school transportation team. We discuss whether the role of drivers will change during the pandemic. Plus, many districts in the state and nation face a serious school bus driver shortage. Matt describes the training and support drivers may need to help their students adjust to changes in school bus services -- and he offers an impromptu call to those who may be interested in a rewarding career as a school bus driver.We also explore essential operations that school district transportation departments have carried out during the time of campus closures, including the vital role of mechanics. All along the route, Matt reminds us to embrace a mindset of flexibility during these difficult and uncertain times. We also include a brief "explainer" to help you gain a better understanding about key elements of California's school bus system, including what school districts are required to provide for students.Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance from California Department of EducationABOUT OUR GUESTSMatt Sanchez has led the Elk Grove USD transportation department since 2018; he also served in the district previously between 1988-2002. In addition, he served as a Transportation Consultant for the California Department of Education for 11 years, and also as Director of Transportation for Rocklin USD. Matt is currently the CASBO State Chair for Transportation, and also serves on the Communications, Advocacy and Public Relations Subcommittee for STARTS, the Student Transportation Aligned for Return to School, which includes collaboration between the National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services and the National School Transportation Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in business form CSU Sacramento. (mmsanche@egusd.net)Kevin Sellstrom began his career in education as a special education instructional assistant. He has also served as a bus driver, scheduling technician, MOT supervisor and transportation specialist in multiple California School districts. (ksellstrom@eduhsd.k12.ca.us)About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback!

California educators, school leaders and communities have never faced a moment with so many intersecting crises: pandemic, economic, educational, civic. While schools just wrapped up the 2019-20 year, the push is on to determine how to ready schools for the coming year. It's no easy task. Guest Daryl Camp, Superintendent of San Lorenzo USD in Alameda County and President of the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA), helps us continue to explore the complex decisions and challenges facing California's school communities: How can districts provide quality educational experiences for students within the parameters of COVID-19 health and safety precautions? And how to pay for it when state policymakers are contemplating severe budget cuts to a school system that is already chronically underfunded?Dr. Camp describes how planning conversations in best district have centered on three principles: Student and staff safety; student learning; and equity. He further discusses difficult trade-offs with different approaches to restarting schools. To support school districts, Dr. Camp advocates for greater flexibility, changes to certain ways that schools are funded (such as shifting away from funding based on attendance to funding based on enrollment); more clear guidelines from the state and public health officials about safety; and more guidance regarding learning expectations in the context of the extra safety precautions. We also discuss Dr. Camp’s recent testimony to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance and why the connection between legislators and educators needs to be strengthened. MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Daryl F. Camp began serving as the superintendent of the San Lorenzo USD in 2019. Previously, he served for seven years as the superintendent of the Riverbank USD. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College, his master’s degree at CSU Hayward, and his doctorate degree in educational leadership at CSU Sacramento.VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR RE-OPENING SCHOOLSAdvancing Equity in an Era of Crisis, Professional Learning Webinars from CAAASACalifornia Department of Education COVID-19 Resource pageRecovering and Improving Stronger, Memo from CCEEFinal Report by the ACSA School Reopening Planning GroupLearning loss and achievement gaps top discussion on school reopening article in EdSourceCASBO COVID-19 Resources Education Coalition Statement on May Revision to the BudgetAssembly Budget Subcommittee #2 on Education Finance, April 28 hearing videoAbout CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback and ideas!

Catch up quickly on the latest California state budget news with CASBO’s governmental relations team, Sara Bachez and Elizabeth Esquival. They highlight recent legislative reactions and deliberations since the May Revise was released on May 14, as California grapples with closing a massive state budget deficit. Sara and Elizabeth review key elements of the Governor's proposal, which called for, among other things, a 10 percent cut to the Local Control Funding Formula. They describe some initial, positive momentum with regard to special education funding and the state providing more flexibility to school districts; plus, they share top concerns raised by CASBO and the state's Education Coalition. For a detailed description of CASBO's position in response to the May Revise, read CASBO's May Revise Position Letter, released on May 21, 2020. This letter notes that "the proposed state funding for public education will create new barriers to safety, educational attainment and access; yet, schools are critical to reopening the economy that has been severely impacted by COVID-19. In that spirit, CASBO will continue to emphasize that we prioritize the health and safety of our 6 million students and their families, educational staff, and communities."A recently released Education Coalition letter stated, "Schools cannot physically reopen safely with the funding level that has been proposed in the May Revision."Sara and Elizabeth also explain next steps in the state budget process and -- importantly -- they set out a call to action for the next two weeks to ensure that the voices and expertise of those who serve in local school districts inform the state's ultimate policy and fiscal decisions surrounding the budget. Be sure to visit the CASBO's Advocacy Page.PLUS: We premier a new musical piece created especially for this unique moment by Tommy Dunbar. We call it The Coronavirus State Budget Blues. You'll want to turn it up.About Our GuestsSara Bachez serves as Chief Governmental Relations Officer for CASBO. Contact her at sbachez@csabo.org.Elizabeth Esquivel serves as Senior Director, Policy & Governance for CASBO. Contact her at eesquivel@casbo.org.Tommy Dunbar is a professional musician, songwriter and producer. Since the 1970s he has been playing guitar all over the world with his band, The Rubinoos. Tommy handles all all of our sound, mixing and music for the podcast.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 23,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities.About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback and ideas!

Students, families, communities -- our entire society -- we're facing tough times. During such times, California's public schools are more vital than ever -- and schools depend on talented, knowledgeable school business officials to keep all aspects of our education system functioning smoothly and safely.In this episode, Jamie Dial, CASBO President and the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for Kings County Office of Education, joins us for a timely conversation about school business.From financial services, payroll, accounting, transportation, and human resources, to child nutrition, special education, risk management, facilities, maintenance & operations, technology, and more, California school business officials support educators and staff on behalf of more than 6 million schoolchildren and their families.Jamie describes her pathway into school business and helps us explore the profession: What are some of the key challenges? How do leaders stay current on the wide range of pertinent issues, practices and laws? And of course, how can we continue to act and lead effectively in times of crisis such as these?Jamie also discusses the importance of being a lifelong learner, of mentoring, and the valuable role CASBO has played in her professional development. You can also listen to Jamie's comments about the California's state budget crisis on our recent episode, "Extreme Budget Turbulence Ahead." About JamieJamie Dial serves as Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the Kings County Office of Education. As CASBO President, she also represents more than 23,000 school business officials throughout the state. Prior to her current position, Jamie served for more than a decade in the Kings County Office of Education and also as a fiscal services specialist at Hanford Elementary School District. She began her career in finance in the retail and merchandising industries before moving into public education. Jamie has also held numerous leadership positions within CASBO. Contact Jamie at jamie.dial@kingscoe.org.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 23,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities.About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback and ideas!

California’s already inadequately funded schools now face the prospect of unprecedented budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, special guests Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, CASBO President Jamie Dial, and school finance guru Rick Simpson help us consider the difficult budget circumstances we find ourselves in -- and how to prepare for the jarring journey ahead. While there’s no sugarcoating that the financial news is bleak, we also look for rays of optimism and try to remain solutions-oriented. With our guests, we explore some of the proposals Gov. Newsom has put forward and implications of the state's massive budget deficit on local school districts. Jamie shares some of the biggest challenges school districts face during this unprecedented time. Assemblymember Muratsuchi notes the vital need for additional federal relief, plus he shares a new idea he'll be introducing to try to raise some additional, critically needed revenue. And Rick offers candid advice for the education community about framing the conversation and context when communicating with key state decision makers in dire fiscal times like these.Note: Gov. Gavin Newsom released his May Revise to the state budget on May 14. It reflects an estimated state budget deficit of $54.3 billion over two year -- and a $19 billion drop in the school funding minimum guarantee since January. For more specific May Revise details, check out CASBO’s News Break. Also be sure to watch the recent webinar with FCMAT's Michael Fine on budget planning during the crisis.About Our GuestsAssemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) represents California’s 66th Assembly District, located in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. He is a former prosecutor and Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice and a former Torrance School Board member. As a legislator, he has championed efforts to increase the state's overall investment in public education. Full bio.Jamie Dial serves as Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the Kings County Office of Education. She also serves as CASBO President, representing more than 23,000 school business officials throughout the state. Prior to her current position, Jamie served for more than a decade in the Kings County Office of Education and also as a fiscal services specialist at Hanford Elementary School District. She began her career in finance in the retail and merchandising industries before moving into public education. Jamie has also held numerous leadership positions within CASBO.Before retiring in 2016, Rick Simpson served in senior legislative positions for four decades, including serving for nine Assembly Speakers, two Education Committee Chairs, and a governor. He is highly regarded as an expert in school finance and policy, and played a key role drafting many significant state education budgets and bills.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Connect with us on Twitter: @CASBOAbout your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com. We value your feedback and ideas!

What will it take so schools across California can re-open in ways that are safe for students and staff? In this special episode, we explore key considerations and questions related to school facilities, operations and custodial services posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Special guests Tony Almeida -- Custodial Manager for Elk Grove USD in Sacramento County -- and Paulo Azevedo -- Director of Maintenance. Operations, Transportation and Facilities for San Ysidro SD in San Diego County -- offer their professional insights into the challenges and complexities of school cleaning and disinfecting amid the pandemic. Plus, they help identify key questions districts and communities should be considering as they plan to successfully re-start schools. As a special feature, we also talk with a high school student to hear her vital perspective and concerns before going back to campus. Note: We have changed our series format during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide more topical guidance and inspiring stories about how California schools are addressing the crisis.About Our GuestsPaulo Azevedo has served in his role at San Ysidro for 1 1/2 years. Prior to that he held facilities and operations leadership positions with several private corporations. At San Ysidro School District, he is part of the Superintendent's cabinet and is responsible for overseeing seven campuses serving more than 4,000 students. He also serves on CASBO's Professional Council for Maintenance & Operations. Contact Paulo at: paulo.azevedo@sysdschools.orgTony Almeida has served in cleaning industry for 32 years, 25 years in public education and seven in private industry. In his current role at Elk Grove USD, he oversees 75 buildings with more than 6 million square feet and 287 full-time staff members. Tony and the EGUSD Maintenance & Operations department are very passionate about green cleaning, sustainable and healthier solutions for school environments. EGUSD was the first district in California to use OSG (on site generation) of electro-chemically activated solutions.Tony currently is also an active steering committee member for Healthy Green Schools and Colleges and his district are current members of the International Sanitary Suppliers Association (ISSA). He has served as the professional council chair for CASBO section board for Maintenance & Operations. His department won the Green Cleaning award for Schools and Universities Silver award in 2017. Tony also has served on the HFI field advisory board for the Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI). Contact Tony at: TALMEIDA@egusd.netAbout CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at edfundingca@gmail.com -- we value your feedback and ideas!

Guest Heather Hough, executive director of Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), joins us to highlight research and perspectives related to the fundamental importance of public education, school funding levels and policies, and proactive approaches that should be on the table as California plans its recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Heather emphasizes that significant investment in California education must be a priority. "Schools are essential to the economy thriving." We're looking at a situation in which our students are going to need even more support than they got before in order to thrive when they re-enter schools, she says. "So now is really the time to invest in education as a way both of raising up what that level was before, but also supporting students, supporting families and over the medium-term supporting the economy." Even before the pandemic, research shows school districts were already underfunded and in a financially delicate place. "What's happening now with COVID-19 might be the straw that breaks the camel's back, if we're not really proactive in helping to solve it."We also discuss inequities the COVID-19 crisis has made even more apparent -- and opportunities the recovery may present to address those inequities in a more assertive way. Heather shares recent polling data that demonstrates voters are highly supportive of efforts to close racial achievement gaps.And, Heather highlights the imperative for us to better understand student needs once schools do re-open, especially since state assessments and California School Dashboard data have been suspended for the year. ResourcesTranscript of this episode with links to specific researchGetting Down to Facts II, Research on California's preK-12 education system"Our children’s education should be a priority as California recovers from coronavirus," by Heather Hough in CalMattersAbout HeatherPrior to her current role at PACE, Heather led the partnership between PACE and the CORE Districts. Her recent work has focused on using research to strengthen state structures supporting continuous improvement and advance policies that support the whole child. Dr. Hough has worked in a variety of capacities to support policy and practice in education, including as an Improvement Advisor at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and a researcher at the Public Policy Institute of California, the Center for Education Policy Analysis at Stanford University, and the Center for Education Policy at SRI International. Dr. Hough holds a PhD in Education Policy and a BA in Public Policy from Stanford. PACE is an independent, nonpartisan research partnership among five CA higher education institutions that seeks to make research accessible and bring evidence to bear on the most critical issues facing our state.About CASBO: The California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Your guide: Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

What if you considered all the ingredients that go into making a great educational experience for students? If you added these up, how much do you think California would need to invest per student to make sure we could provide a quality education to all? That's exactly the study that our guest, Jesse Levin, principal researcher at American Institutes for Research spearheaded. It's a landmark California education funding adequacy study released in 2018 that was part of the statewide Getting Down to Facts II project. Jesse takes us "inside the room" as he recounts how a series of professional judgment panels made up of educational experts deliberated about the programs and services students would need to successfully achieve the State's academic and content standards.We explore how their models considered various school types and the different needs of student populations, all while attempting to maximize cost-effectiveness. And yes: we arrive at the amount that Jesse and his team determined California schools would actually need to invest. Hint: It's more than current spending levels.Jesse puts the findings of this adequacy study into illuminating context, plus he reflects on reactions to the study when it came out. It's an important and fascinating journey into the world of California education research.Note: This episode was recorded just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the State's economic outlook has changed dramatically; however, the findings of this landmark study have not changed. We felt it was still highly relevant to present details about the study as a way to provide valuable context for current and future school funding deliberations. Key ResourcesWhat Does It Cost to Educate California’s Students? A Professional Judgment ApproachWhy Funding California Schools Is Crucial to the State's COVID-19 Recovery CASBO Podcast episodeAbout Jesse D. Levin Over the past 18 years at AIR, Jesse has directed projects investigating school finance equity and adequacy, resource allocation, and educational effectiveness. He currently serves as the director of several cost analysis/cost effectiveness studies for various educational interventions, and recently served as the director of a national study of district weighted student funding systems and as deputy director for a national study of Title I resource allocation, both funded by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to California, Dr. Levin has conducted funding-related studies in Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Nevada and Pennsylvania.He is an appointed member of the California Practitioner Advisory Group, which advises the California State Board of Education, participates in the California Department of Education Technical Design Group, and serves a board trustee in his local district (Pacifica School District). Read full bio.About CASBO: The California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Your guide: Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

Special guest Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools, describes how schools, community organizations and local government agencies are stepping up together in a powerful way to meet the needs of children and families. Marin County was one of the first regions to establish an emergency pop-up childcare program to support essential workers at a time when school campuses and regular childcare facilities are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marin sprang into action even before Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on April 4 to help facilitate expanded access to these types of childcare facilities. What key steps did the partners in Marin County take? And what are some early lessons learned? It’s an inspiring story of collaboration, ingenuity and staying focused on doing the right things.Plus, we’ll check in with CASBO’s Governmental Relations team, Sara Bachez and Elizabeth Esquivel, to learn the latest news about the state budget and federal relief package, and the potential implications for school funding and students.ResourcesCalifornia Department of Education COVID-19 Guidance for Early Learning and Care Programs and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page"Marin expands ‘pop-up’ child care during pandemic," Marin Independent Journal articleExecutive Order on Child CareGuidance on Child Care for Essential WorkersCalifornia Department of Finance letters submitted as part of an interim fiscal update to the Joint Legislative Budget CommitteeLegislative Analyst's Office report, "State Budget Effects of Recent Federal Actions to Address COVID-19Marin County Pop-up Child Care Partners include: County of Marin, Marin County Office of Education, Marin County public school districts, Marin County Free Library, City of San Rafael, North Bay Children’s Center, Community Action Marin, Marin YMCA, and North Marin Community Services.About Mary Jane BurkeAs County Superintendent of Schools, she is responsible for managing the Marin County Office of Education, which serves more than 40,000 students ages birth to 22 years and oversees more than $450 million in public education funds. The County Superintendent of Schools provides a critical fiscal oversight role for the county’s 18 schools districts to guarantee that public funds are managed appropriately and efficiently. In addition, she oversees a broad range of student and education services countywide including special education, alternative education, outdoor education and programs for foster and homeless youth.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders.

In less than four weeks, school districts across the state have embarked on a massive shift to provide distance learning for their students, now that all campuses are physically closed. What is distance learning, really -- and what is it not? And what are the many different steps, including planning, logistics and behind the scenes activities that need to occur for districts to make this pivot quickly and successfully?In this episode, special guest Ryan Altemeyer, Associate Superintendent of Business Services and Chief Business Official for Monterey Peninsula USD takes us on a journey to see how his district, which serves nearly 10,000 students, has approached the shift. Who all was engaged in the effort and how? What were some early challenges? And how is the district working to provide additional supports to its homeless students, and English Learners, among others?In a state as large and diverse as California, with nearly 1,000 school districts, each district and community has its own story about making the transition to distance learning. And while we’ve seen headlines reflecting that the shift takes time and where the lack of access to internet, devices and more is a huge barrier, we also see districts and communities across the state stepping up in powerful ways to make the best of an unprecedented situation. MPUSD is just one of many such districts. Nestled near some of the most beautiful coastline and high wealth communities in the state, people may be surprised to learn that approximately 7 out of every 10 students in the district are from low-income families, and one in five are English Learners.Ryan shares how the district engaged all of its departments to determine what resources they already possessed, and surveyed families to identify needs. He also describes some "nuts and bolts" that went into preparing and distributing devices to those who needed them. MPUSD was able to build on technology and learning approaches already set up at their middle and high schools, so expanding access to elementary students became their focal point. It's all very much still a work in progress. Ryan also explains the “asynchronous” model his district is utilizing that enables students to work at their own pace with educators providing direction, support and guidance.ResourcesUpdated COVID-19 guidance on the California Department of Education Website About Ryan AltemeyerRyan Altemeyer was appointed to his current position in July 2018. He oversees and leads the district’s Business Services division. This includes: Budget and Fiscal Services, Purchasing, Maintenance/Operations/Facilities, Bond Programs, Risk/Safety/Liability, Transportation, Energy Management, Information Technology, and Nutrition Services. He previously led MPUSD’s IT department as Chief Technology Officer from 2015 to 2018. He also served as the district's director of IT and as the Salinas Union High School District’s Director of Technology, and as a network communications technician. Ryan has an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management at San Francisco, and a BS from Devry University in Fremont. About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

In this episode we explore early financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on California schools: What should we know, what should we be planning for, and what might the road ahead look like? There are both some optimistic and sobering stops along the way.Guest Matt Phillips, Director of Management Consulting Services at the statewide firm School Services of California joins us. Matt discusses how the state and local districts have prepared for a pending economic crisis, plus we consider Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest announcement on April 2 that everything is back “on the table” for the 2020-2021 state budget. We also check in with CASBO’s CEO and Executive Director Molly McGee Hewitt, who describes the new labor-management framework just agreed to by all the major statewide education organizations. Molly also shares how school districts around the state are stepping up to meet the needs of their students and communities, and what concerns her most going forward. ResourcesJust released: "Update on State and District Reserves" from the State Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO)Updated guidance on the California Department of Education Website About Matt PhillipsMatt Phillips, CPA, provides support to school districts for fiscal-related matters including budget reviews, salary schedule analyses, organizational reviews, and negotiations. He also presents workshops across the state on a variety of topics including the Local Control and Accountability Plan, collective bargaining, district budgeting, and auditing. His background as a Certified Public Accountant, experience working in a school district, and completion of the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team Chief Business Official (CBO) Mentor Program that resulted in the CASBO CBO certificate provide the foundation for these areas. Matt graduated from California State University, Chico, with a degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting.About Molly McGee HewittFor more than a decade, Molly has served as CASBO's CEO & Executive Director. She began her career as a public information officer and public relations professional for several unified school districts and non-profit organizations. She has served as a classroom teacher, site and district administrator, and school board member; and she's worked with school districts, county offices of education and educational organizations in North, South and Central America. At CASBO, Molly oversees all leadership, membership, advocacy, professional development and business efforts. About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

California’s public school districts are rising to the challenge of providing students with much-needed meals during the COVID-19 crisis.In this episode, special guests Stephanie Bruce, Nutrition Services Director for Palm Springs USD and Andrew Soliz, Director of Child Nutrition Services for San Mateo-Foster City School District share how their districts are preparing and delivering meals to thousands of students daily, even in the face of a global pandemic. Essentially, food service teams throughout the state are serving as first responders in the massive effort to ensure millions of students continue to receive nutritious meals while schools are closed. Andrew and Stephanie offer a glimpse into the approaches their districts are taking, including the innovative use of school busses to deliver meals to local neighborhoods and “Grab and Go” operations. They also discuss how they’re keeping staff and students safe, challenges, lessons to share – and inspiring moments as communities come together during the crisis.Note: During this time, we’re utilizing our series to bring you more topical guidance and inspiring stories from around the state. ResourcesGov. Newsom’s March 13 Executive Order states that to continue to receive funding, districts must “Provide school meals in non-congregate settings...consistent with the requirements of the California Department of Education and U.S Department of Agriculture.”National School Lunch Program Fact SheetWhat is the California State Meal Program?How Are Kids Fed, Ed100.org blogJust in: New waivers announced by USDA allow parents to take meals home to their children. Fact: In 2019, 59.4% of CA public school children were eligible for free and reduced price lunches.About our GuestsAfter starting his career with the Salt Lake City School District, Andrew moved to Fresno, where he served as Director of Child Nutrition, Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation for a small school district. Prior to his current role, he also served as Executive Manager of Food and Nutrition in San Leandro. Andrew has served as President of the California School Nutrition Association and currently serves as CASBO's Professional Council Chair of Child Nutrition, and Director I for CASBO’s NorthernSection Board. Stephanie has worked in the food service industry for over 30 years and in Child Nutrition for 20 years. She has been with the Palm Springs USD for the past 6 years. She holds a Culinary Arts Degree from College of the Desert; a BS in Hotel/Restaurant Management from California Polytechnic College in Pomona; and an MBA in Finance from the University of Redlands. Stephanie currently sits as the West Region Leadership Committee representative for the School Nutrition Association (SNA) and is an Instructor for both the CASBO CBO certification program and the USC Rossier School of Business. About the California Association of School Business Officials CASBO is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

In less than two weeks, nearly all school districts and schools in California have closed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These closures impact six million students and their families, plus hundreds of thousands of educators, school and district staff, and leaders. Moreover, school closures deeply affect our local communities. We're interrupting our planned schedule of ed funding topics to provide this special update. Join guests Sara Bachez and Elizabeth Esquivel from CASBO’s Governmental Relations team as they share important information about the school closures. They highlight actions that state leaders have taken to minimize spread of the virus. On March 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order, which ensured that schools continue to receive funding and outlined key efforts that schools should pursue. This past weekend the state legislature acted swiftly to approve a number of bills to support the effort. Also this week, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond, and the Departments of Education and Health briefed thousands of educators to help carry out the Governor’s executive order. The CDE is providing the latest, updated guidance on its website. Sara and Elizabeth also provide a quick recap about:Who makes the decisions to close schools? What services and instruction (such as distance learning) are school districts working hard to provide during this most challenging time?What is the vital role schools play in ensuring that students have access to meals, even when schools are closed.What else do schools need to remain stable and be able to support students and their communities right now?We also share news that the Governor has issued another executive order, pending federal approval, to suspend statewide standardized testing for this year. Update: President Trump announced Friday that the federal government would suspend national testing requirements this year.For certain, responding to a pandemic that has closed down schools and forced millions to shelter in place is largely unchartered territory for Californians. As we press forward in the days and weeks ahead, more information and guidance will be coming from the state and local leaders. CASBO will help share this information. If you have questions, email Sara or Elizabeth at sbachez@casbo.org or Eesquivel@casbo.org.ResourcesCalifornia Department of Education Website CA.Gov California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response"What California Parents and Students Should Know About COVID-19" from EdSource“Learning in the Time of COVID-19” – Online Resources for Educators, Parents and more from the Learning Policy InstituteCalifornia Releases New COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools, Governor's OfficeCASBO.orgInformation for Schools on Responding to the COVID-19 Outbreak from CSBA

Sadly, we have a crisis on our hands -- locally, across the state and nation, and globally -- as we work to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The magnitude of, and speed at which, we find ourselves in this new circumstance is hard to fathom. The road ahead is largely uncharted. In this episode, we check in with CASBO’s CEO and Executive Director, Molly McGee Hewitt, to help us think about what’s important for leaders to focus on during times when so much is unsettled and uncertain around us. Molly’s service as a leader and communicator in a wide range of roles gives her unique experiences to draw on. And whether you’re a leader in a school district, a civic group, in your job or community or family, she has some great tips and strategies to remember.Be sure to listen to our other recent episode about the impact of COVID-19 on school closures in California.More Resources about school closures in California and the impact of COVID-19California Department of Education Website CA.Gov California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response"What California Parents and Students Should Know About COVID-19" from EdSourceCASBO.orgAbout Molly McGee HewittFor more than a decade, Molly has served as CASBO's CEO & Executive Director. She began her career as a public information officer and public relations professional for several unified school districts and non-profit organizations. She has served as a classroom teacher, site and district administrator, and school board member; and she's worked with school districts, county offices of education and educational organizations in North, South and Central America. She's received more than 200 awards and commendations for her public service; and she's authored more than 14 publications for educators, administrators and school board members, including “A PR Guide for School Administrators.” At CASBO, Molly oversees all leadership, membership, advocacy, professional development and business efforts. About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 24,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities.About your series guide Paul Richman served as the first executive director of the California State Parent Teachers Association, as well as chief of staff for the California School Boards Association. Most recently he has helped lead a state coalition, the Alliance for Continuous Improvement, and is part of the team that produces the Inside California Education public TV series. Throughout his career, he has focused on raising understanding about school funding and education policy issues – and raising the state’s per-student investment. Contact him at EdfundingCA@gmail.com.

How can it be that many California school districts are staring into the face of painful budget cuts, even as overall school funding has increased in recent years? Why isn’t more funding available in many districts for priorities such as hiring additional counselors, teachers and staff and adding programs for students? It’s an unusual situation one researcher called, “The Silent Recession” – and it’s the subject of this episode's adventure. Special guest John Gray, president and CEO of School Service of California, helps us explore why some districts are struggling just to keep up with their costs -- let alone build up investments in programs and staff that would ensure all their students have full access to opportunities and success. John describes how and why rising operational and health care costs, underfunded state pension programs, declining enrollment, and increased special education obligations – plus lower than needed proposed annual cost of living adjustments – are putting so much pressure on local district budgets.Note: We recorded this interview prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created a devastating public health crisis and economic crisis.Because salaries and benefits make up the majority of school districts' expenses, and those salaries and benefits are “collectively bargained” by labor unions and districts, John also explains the bargaining process – in particular, what happens when the two sides are initially unable to reach an agreement. John often serves as what’s called a “fact finder” in those situations where an impasse has been declared. ResourcesSilent Recession: Why California School Districts Are Underwater Despite Increases in Funding, by WestEdThe Big Squeeze: How Unfunded Pension Costs Threaten Education Equity, by Pivot LearningExplainer: Schools and Pension Costs in California – video from EdSource Special Education Costs Flood School Budgets, by Ed100.org About John GrayJohn contributes tremendous practical experience to the management consulting team at School Services of California (SSC) and serves SSC’s clients by conducting fiscal health analyses, providing collective bargaining assistance, preparing multiyear financial projections, performing school district efficiency studies, conducting internal control reviews, conducting district office organization reviews, and directing executive search services. John is a regular speaker at CASBO, ACSA and CSBA events and conferences. He is an instructor at the USC Rossier School Business Management Certificate program, the CSBA Masters in Governance program, and the CASBO Chief Business Official Certification courses. He also served as Chairman of the Board for EdSource. Prior to joining SSC, John served as the Director of Fiscal Services for the Fresno USD. He received his Bachelor of Science degree.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. About your series guide Paul Richman is a public education advocate and consultant. Contact him at EdfundingCA@gmail.com

Why is California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) so significant? In this episode, we continue our journey through major milestones in school funding history with our first stop to LCFF-land. Special Guest Saa’un Bell, Strategy Director at Californians for Justice, helps us explore why the state’s shift to an equity-based system beginning in 2013 was so historic.The LCFF was a sweeping law, carrying with it a whole lot of hope and promise, especially for students and families who hadn’t always been heard or served well by the school system. It was a bold law that ironically has come to be known by its rather mundane four initials. There are many ways to tell the LCFF story: a research and policy side, a political side. There is the budgetary formula itself. But first and foremost, LCFF is the story of major change. Saa’un offers the perspective of both a statewide and local community leader who participated with a wide range of grassroots and community partners to help advocate for this change to a more equitable funding system on behalf of students and families.Saa’un helps us tell the “why” story – as in, why LCFF? She describes the work her organization and other grassroots groups did leading up to the LCFF – and the transformational change the new law, championed by former Gov. Jerry Brown, brought forward. LCFF targets additional funds to districts to support students from low-income families, English learners, and foster and homeless youth. Saa'un also shares examples of where student engagement in decision-making as a result of the LCFF has led to positive outcomes, and she discusses what still needs to happen to realize the full potential of LCFF. We also delve into some honest conversation about the connections between funding and race in California. Along the way we provide a brief explainer about LCFF's technical details and we explore one monumental thing that the LCFF did not do…cliffhanger…you’ll have to listen to find out.ResourcesLCFF Lesson from Ed100.orgCASBO school finance guide and LCFF Budget Toolkit California Department of Education: LCFF pageCalifornians for Justice: LCFF page EdSource: Local Control Funding Formula Essentials Guide. CDE Foundation Resource Clearinghouse LCFF resources from California State PTAAbout Saa'un Bell As a former English Language Learner student from Long Beach USD and first-generation college graduate, Saa'un is committed to building a public education infrastructure where all students have the opportunities to fulfill their highest aspirations. Saa’un joined Californians for Justice in 2009, helping to organize community college students and youth of color in Oakland schools. In her current role as Strategy Director, she oversees all communications and narrative strategy for CFJ’s regional and statewide campaigns.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. Learn more at CASBO.org.

How did California slide into such a deep school funding hole, and how can we climb our way back up? These are among the questions we take on in this latest adventure with special guest Gary Hart. As a former state legislator, longtime Senate Education Committee Chair, and Secretary of Education, Gary offers the critical perspective of someone who was “inside the Capitol building” during a truly pivotal time in the early life of Ed Funding.He began his career as a classroom teacher before serving two decades in the state legislature at a time (1974-1994) when so many key events in school funding unfolded. What led to the dramatic disinvestment in California’s schools, beginning in the 1970s? Rising real estate values, bad economic times and a major change in the state’s demographics all contributed, according to Gary. He also reflects on whether there’s anything he wishes he might’ve done differently while in office to help change the downward trajectory of per-student funding. And what about Proposition 98? Former Sen. Hart takes some exception to characterizations that legislators and governors “manipulated” the Prop. 98 constitutional guarantee for schools, causing it to become more of a “ceiling” than a “floor” for per-student funding. “Ballot box budgeting,” he says, “is not a good system.” We also explore the sometimes shifting borders between how prescriptive the state used to be in telling local school districts how to spend their funds, and the relatively recent move towards more local control. As our adventure continues, Gary takes on the mountain that California faces to increase school funding to the levels needed to support all students. A more stable state revenue system must be identified, he says, especially so the state is not so disproportionately reliant on income taxes. Finally, we consider whether, at the end of the day, increasing school funding comes down to whether or not those currently serving in Sacramento truly have the political will to take it on.More ResourcesFor a terrific history of California’s school funding slide, we recommend the 2004 documentary, “From First to Worst” a production of the Merrow Report by award-winning journalist John Merrow. You can find it online.Ed100.org is a excellent free resource with concise, engaging online courses that help people understand complex education issues. Ed100 has an entire chapter on school funding, including a great lesson about Propositions 13 and 98.About Gary HartGary served in the California State Legislature as an assemblymember and senator for 20 years, representing Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. In his role as chairman of the Senate Education Committee (1983 to 1994), he wrote important education legislation concerning school finance, class-size reduction, and charter schools. He also served as the Secretary of Education for Governor Gray Davis. In addition, he has served on the board of directors for the Public Policy Institute of California for more than ten years, including as chair. In 1995, he founded the California State University Institute for Education Reform, a policy center focusing on elementary and secondary school issues. In 2001, he established the Program in America and California Explorations (PACE), an honors program at Kennedy High School in Sacramento. He obtained his MA in teaching from Harvard University and his BA from Stanford University.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business.

The Proposition 13 (2020) School Facilities Bond will help ensure that students across the state have access to safe, healthy and modern learning environments.On March 3, California voters have an important opportunity to pass this statewide school bond measure. It provides critically needed resources for renovating and building schools in districts throughout the state. Proposition 13 (2020) includes significant funding for K-12 schools, plus the University of California system, California State Universities and the California Community Colleges. The school facilities bond is supported by a wide range of education and civic groups (including CASBO), plus organizations representing parents, firefighters, nurses, the California Chamber of Commerce, and many more.CASBO's Chief Governmental Relations Officer Sara Bachez joins us on this special episode to explain why the school bond is so important, who's supporting it -- and to clarify why this Number 13 is a perfectly positive proposition worthy of passage. More resourcesYes on 13 website -- Safeschoolsandhealthylearning.comUnderstanding Proposition 13 -- CASBO Newsbreak"California Students Deserve Safe, Healthy Schools" -- Commentary by California State PTA President Celia Jaffe in EdSource. About Sara BachezSara serves as Chief Governmental Relations Officer at CASBO. In that capacity, she represents thousands of school business officials statewide on legislative matters affecting public education finance. Prior to assuming her current role, she served as Legislative Advocate for the Association of California School Administrators. Sara began her career in public policy as a legislative fellow, then served for five years as a budget consultant for the Assembly Budget Committee. Sara received a BA in Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley; and an MBA from California State University, Sacramento.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 24,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities.

Would California schools actually be better off if Proposition 98 had never come into being? Why is it still so important to understand? And where do we go from here to fulfill the initiative’s promise of bringing state spending per student to the top ten among states? On this show, we’re big believers in the axiom that to get where you want to go, you need to understand where you’ve been. That’s why we’re making a special journey this episode into the recent history of school funding in California. Think of these as Ed Funding’s formative years. Our special guest Kevin Gordon, President of Capitol Advisors, helps us explore this history, including the mother of all state ballot measures, California's Proposition 98. The measure sought to lift California school spending to among the top ten states in the nation, but for many reasons, we’re still not there. When it appeared on the statewide ballot in 1988, Prop. 98 barely passed – by less than one percent of the electorate. What led up to the measure, and what impact has it had on education in the 30-plus years since, both good and bad? Kevin takes us through the politics as well as the intricacies of this notoriously complicated measure. To help break it down, Kevin also takes our “60 Second Challenge” to explain the basic mechanics of how Proposition 98 works.More about Proposition 98Approved by California voters in 1988, Prop. 98 established a minimum guarantee for school funding in the state constitution. It was intended both to be a floor that funding would never fall below, and a formula for ultimately growing funding over time to the top ten among states.“The problem,” Kevin says, “is as soon as it got implemented, the legislature was always trying to figure out, what does it take just to do the minimum – and once they do the minimum, check the box, we’re done. And that’s what happened: it became a funding cap instead of a funding floor.”Proposition 98 began 30 years of what the State’s Legislative Analyst Office later referred to as, “A plethora of tests and rules that govern the minimum guarantee.” Read the Legislative Analyst Office report, “A Historical Review of Proposition 98” from January 2017.More ResourcesFor a terrific (albeit sobering) history of California’s school funding slide, we recommend the 2004 documentary, “From First to Worst” a production of the Merrow Report by award-winning journalist John Merrow. You can find it online.Ed100.org is a free resource with concise, engaging online courses that help people understand complex education issues. Ed100 has an entire chapter on school funding, including a great lesson about Propositions 13 and 98.Edsource provides timely, useful and accurate information about a range of major education issues, including school funding. More about Kevin GordonWidely viewed among the top education advocates in California, Kevin is the President and a founding partner of Capitol Advisors Group. He formerly served as Executive Director of CASBO, and as the Chief Lobbyist and Assistant Executive Director of the California School Boards Association (CSBA). He also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Robert T. Matsui and as a legislative advocate for the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). He holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business.

Journey with us to California’s Inland Empire as we consider this foundational question: What do school districts spend their funding on? Special guest Rich De Nava, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, helps us explore where schools devote their money. Hint: the vast majority is spent on people. In his role, Rich works with business officials from 33 school districts in the county. He explains that, by and large, about 85-90 percent of a typical school district’s budget goes toward salaries and benefits of employees. He also walks us through the many people students might see or interact with on a given day whose salaries are paid by the district, starting of course, with teachers – and including some who fulfill vital roles somewhat more behind the scenes.Even with the vast majority of district funds dedicated to personnel, California schools in general are severely understaffed compared to many other states due to the overall lack of state funding.In addition, about 10-15 percent of a district’s expenditures go towards operations – the “stuff and services” as Rich calls them. This includes everything from utilities and building maintenance to classroom supplies, technology, transportation, professional development for staff, and more. “It’s a small number compared to the salaries and benefits piece, but it’s equally crucial,” he says.Finally, we consider another vital question: How discretionary, really, are a school district’s decisions about spending? More About Rich De NavaRich currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at San Jacinto Unified School District. Rich has worked in education since 2003. Prior to his work in education, he served as an Officer in the U.S. Army.In 2019, Rich was elected to serve as Vice President for CASBO. He is one of four elected officers of the statewide association. During his tenure with CASBO, he previously served two terms as the Eastern Section director. He has also served as the organization’s treasurer, secretary, president-elect, president and past president for the Eastern Section Executive Board.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 24,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities.About your guide, Paul RichmanPaul served as the first executive director of the California State Parent Teachers Association, as well as chief of staff for the California School Boards Association. Most recently he has helped lead a state coalition, the Alliance for Continuous Improvement and is part of the team that produces the Inside California Education public TV series. Throughout his career, he has focused on raising understanding about school finance issues – and raising the state’s per-student investment.

In our inaugural episode, Guest Samantha Tran from Children Now, a statewide nonprofit organization, takes us through a study comparing a typical California high school to similar schools in two other states that invest more per student than California. What the study found, she says, was jarring.Public school students in California don’t have the same types of experiences and opportunities that kids in most other states do. The typical California school is dramatically understaffed. On average, California has among the worst ratios of adults to students, among the highest class sizes, lowest number of counselors, nurses, social workers – and, Samantha says, that means kids get a lot less opportunities than kids in other state that invest more.View the report, “Not Enough Adults to go Around: Underfunded California Schools Provide Less Support For Kids.” As part of this episode, Samantha also helps us explore how California school funding wound up in this situation, and what it might take to raise up the state’s inadequate investment. We consider an insightful way to measure a state’s overall commitment to education funding -- by a concept economists call “effort” – that is, comparing how much a state spends on schools as a percentage of the personal income earned by state residents.The Children Now report states that, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in the late 1960s Californians as a whole were contributing 4 percent of their personal income to schools; by 2015-16, that had declined to 3.2 percent (among the lowest 10 states), which translates into a difference of $16.6 billion if Californians made a similar effort today as they did decades ago. In addition, if California invested at the national average level of effort, which is 3.7 percent, it would be spending an additional $11 billion per year on its schools. Both Illinois and New Jersey – the two states included in the Children Now research brief -- fund a much higher level of effort, 4.5 and 4.9 percent, respectively. If California spent on K-12 education at a similar level of effort as these two states, it would spend an additional $26.7 billion (Illinois effort) or $37 billion (New Jersey effort). “There has been a lot of work to improve public schools in California,” Samantha says. “A lot of reforms have occurred. But we have not stepped up on the investment side – and that means we do not have enough adults on campus. We can only push so far without also investing in the resources to help educators be successful and ultimately support student outcomes.”

Complex. Mystifying. These words are often used to describe education funding -- and yet, funding is the crucial ingredient to ensure our public school system meets the needs of all students, families and society. This series is for everyone who works in and around education -- plus anyone who wants to learn more about what drives the most important institutions in every local community: our public schools.From local educators, students, parents, and administrators -- to education advocates, researchers and capitol insiders -- we seek out the perspectives and stories of those who have had a hand in shaping school funding, and all those who are touched bit it. Join us as we journey through the surprisingly fascinating world of schools, money, and California's future.About CASBOThe California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders. CASBO is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in all aspects of school business. Founded in 1928, CASBO serves more than 24,000 members by providing certifications and training, promoting business best practices and creating opportunities for professional collaboration. CASBO members represent every facet of school business management and operations. The association offers public school leaders an entire career's worth of growth opportunities.About your guide Paul Richman served as the first executive director of the California State Parent Teachers Association, as well as chief of staff for the California School Boards Association. Most recently he has helped lead a state coalition, the Alliance for Continuous Improvement, and is part of the team that produces the Inside California Education public TV series. Throughout his career, he has focused on raising understanding about school funding and education policy issues – and raising the state’s per-student investment.