San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2005-2006
Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions | Recommendations | Responses | Attachments Summary of Governance and
⚠️ 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.
Recommendations 6
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R1Enforce the changes to the Bylaws of the Board noted in Findings I and adopted January 11, 2006, which address the day-to-day operations of the district by administrative staff and the proper comportment of Board members in their official role.
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R2As a full board, complete a formal training course, as offered by the California School Boards Association (CSBA), on the responsibilities and limitations of School Board Members. This CSBA training must be completed during the 2006-2007 school year.
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R3Direct the Superintendent to negotiate with the Classified Employees Union to eliminate the Personnel Commission. 7
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R4Direct the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services to implement all 11 recommendations of the June 2005 Audit Report before the 2006 Audit takes place.
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R5Assign members of the Board to meet regularly with members of the City Council of Daly City to identify and develop projects of mutual benefit.
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R6Improve communication with the community by: 6.1. Televising and broadcasting Board meetings 6.2. Inviting reporters from local newspapers to attend and report on each Board meeting 6.3. Posting all Board meeting agendas and approved minutes on the district web site in an easily accessible format. Board Approved 8/23/06 Jefferson Elementary School District August 14, 2006 Response to the Grand Jury Recommendation School Board Members gave opening statements of their individual responses regarding the Grand Jury recommendations at the Board Meeting on August 9, 2006. Individual Board Members’ written statements will be included as an
Conclusions 1
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CL1Since the seating of the newly elected Board in December of 2005, a number of corrective actions have been taken, and others are in process. The Grand Jury, found serious problems, however, in the governance of the Jefferson Elementary School District. Some members of the School Board do not conduct themselves within the scope and limitations of their legitimate roles as board members. They have far exceeded their authority by bypassing professional staff and attempting to micro-manage the day-to-day operation of the district. The financial problems of the District have been caused by a combination of factors, including declining enrollment, high turnover of fiscal management staff, and delays in finding and rectifying a series of accounting errors. Serious conflicts among the Board members have handicapped the Board's effectiveness. This behavior has exacerbated the already significant deterioration in the financial condition of the District. The Grand Jury believes that improvement in the condition of the district is dependent on both the professional comportment of Board members and their immediate attention to and correction of pressing financial issues. To ensure effective governance of the school district, the community must be regularly and fully informed of the issues and of the conduct of the board in addressing those issues.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Jefferson Elementary School District
School District