Superintendent Turnover at the Santa Clara County Office of Education Time to Elect the Superintendent Civil Grand Jury

Conclusions 5

• CL1 Page 17
  Santa Clara County does not specify the manner of selecting the County Board of Education in its Charter or in any other manner as required by California Education Code, Section 1000.
• CL2 Page 14
  The high turnover rate of Superintendents is an unenviable hallmark of the BOE. The Grand Jury found that stability at the top is crucial to helping the SCCOE accomplish its mission of supporting student education. Turnover erodes employee morale, impacts trust between local school districts and the SCCOE, and creates a negative public perception. The Grand Jury discovered there is a lack of mutual respect for the scope of authority and jurisdiction between the BOE and Superintendent, leading to turnover. The Grand Jury also discovered that the manner of selecting the Superintendent and members of the BOE was deleted from the County Charter in 1998 and that there is no current written provision of law authorizing appointment of the Superintendent by the BOE or the election of members of the BOE. The Grand Jury concludes the most effective way to ensure the independent authority of the Superintendent is to make the office an elected position. Since the public school system
• CL3 Page 15
  belongs to the people, the public should maintain control of the schools via the exercise of the right to the ballot.
• CL4 Page 16
  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Finding 1a There is an inherent jurisdictional conflict between an appointed superintendent and an elected Board of Education that fosters governance disunity. Finding 1b The previous four appointed Superintendents were separated from employment by the BOE in large part due to conflicts over BOE and Superintendent responsibilities. Finding 1c The BOE has employed five Superintendents in the last 11 years, a high turnover rate compared to counties with an elected Superintendent. Finding 1d The high Superintendent turnover has wasted more than $1 million of taxpayer money. Finding 1e The short tenure of the Superintendent has contributed to general dissatisfaction with the quality of services provided by the County Office of Education. Finding 1f Santa Clara County lacks any written provision of law designating the manner of selecting the County Superintendent of Schools, as addressed in California Constitution Article IX, Section 3. Finding 1g Citizens are entitled to clarity as to the manner of selecting the County Superintendent of Schools through a written provision of law. Recommendation 1a The County Superintendent of Schools should be an elected office.
• CL5 Page 17
  Recommendation 1b The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors should designate in a written provision of law the manner of selecting the County Superintendent of Schools by Dec. 31, 2018, or if they elect to do so by Charter, by the 2020 primary election ballot. Finding 2 Santa Clara County does not specify the manner of selecting the County Board of Education in its Charter or in any other manner as required by California Education Code, Section 1000. Recommendation 2 The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors should provide for the manner of selection of the County Board of Education by Dec. 31, 2018, or, if they elect to do so by Charter, by the 2020 primary election ballot.

No Responses Found 3

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