📋
Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Nevada County Grand Jury
• 2007-2008
Nevada County Committee on School District Organization Reason for Investigation
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
The Nevada County CCSDO has only met once a year during the last three years, and then only to re-elect members during the annual county school district dinner and award ceremony.
F2
Available minutes from meetings of the CCSDO were sporadic and indicate the Committee has not performed any useful function or task since it considered a high school boundary question more than three years ago.
F3
The philosophy of the current and former county superintendents has been to “call you if I need you” The former superintendent used the CCSDO only for a district boundary change over three years ago, and the current superintendent has not convened the CCSDO to consider any issue or recommendation.
F4
Local school identity is considered essential to any organization or administrative configuration of schools and school districts.
F5
The administrative consolidation of the Ready Springs and Pleasant Valley school districts is an example of administrative savings while preserving local school identity. It is a model for examination and consideration by the CCSDO.
F6
There are five small schools districts in Nevada County, three with fewer than five hundred students.
F7
No investigation of consolidation of the five small school districts has been initiated by the CCSDO, nor has the CCSDO been directed by the county superintendent of schools to commence any such consideration.
F8
The Grand Jury is aware that the state’s proposed budget cuts may result in the possible reduction of local teaching and program positions. The Nevada County Superintendent of Nevada County Committee on School District Organization P a g e 2 Schools estimated the possibility of the elimination of up to 26 teaching positions that would be accomplished partially by layoffs and the balance by not filling positions opened by retirements, as well as other school cuts. There was no mention of any anticipated involvement of the CCSDO in these considerations. Conclusions
Recommendations 4
-
R1The CCSDO should be active and meet on a regular monthly or quarterly basis.
-
R2The CCSDO should take the initiative in its mandated role instead of passively waiting to participate in consideration of organizational issues and concerns involving potential administrative and fiscal efficiencies of county schools and school districts. Frequency of meetings should be determined by the urgency of the fiscal reductions facing the districts.
-
R3CCSDO inquiries should actively include the input of parents of students, teachers, administrators and administrative staff of all schools studied, as well as staff and administrators of the office of the county superintendent of schools.
-
R4The CCSDO should issue a comprehensive and detailed report of its findings and recommendations on consolidations, reorganizations, and administrative mergers to the County Board of Education on or before December 31, 2008.
Conclusions 4
-
CL1 Page 3The Nevada CCSDO appears to have become non-functional.
-
CL2 Page 3The Grand Jury believes that the former and current County Superintendents’ disregard of any advisory or consultative role for the CCSDO as part of a broad, inclusive, and proactive decision-making mode, is not in the county schools’ best interests.
-
CL3 Page 3The Nevada County Board of Education and its Superintendent of Schools are not in compliance with Chapter 3 of the California Department of Education’s School District Organization Handbook’s policy on the function and mission of a county committee on school district organization.
-
CL4 Page 3There are five small districts that might benefit from consolidation of administrative functions while preserving school identity.
No Responses Found 3
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Nevada City Elementary School District
School District
Nevada County County Superintendent of Schools
Elected County Office