Stockton Unified School District Rubber Stamped School Buses Still Idle Lack of Board of Trustees Oversight*

Conclusions 1

• CL1
  The Board needs to improve its oversight approval of large purchases and large disposals of assets. In addition the special student transportation changes need to be implemented promptly to reduce costs. No single staff work product is more central to good decision making than agenda reports. These reports help the Board define projects, understand complex problems, consider alternative solutions, and determine courses of action. Agenda reports present recommendations involving millions of dollars in public assets, and also assure that administrative processes are managed in a fair and open manner. In addition, the reports are used by the public to understand and participate in the decision-making process of the community. Radio, television, and newspaper reporters use the reports to research and explain issues to their respective audiences. Well-written agenda reports, therefore, serve many important purposes. Without clear, complete, and accurate agenda reports, the opportunity for informed public participation in the decision-making process is diminished and the Board's ability to make good public decisions is made more difficult. Questions remain unanswered: Why did the District "need" to purchase the buses? Was it staffs' intention to replace current buses or establish their own fleet in lieu of contracting with Storer Transportation? Why were the buses never put into service? Is it realistic to believe the District will not incur a loss when the buses are eventually sold? The Board decisions to approve the purchase and sale of the (never used) 31 buses based on ill-conceived and incomplete staff analysis illustrates the importance of Board financial oversight. The 31 buses still remain idle. Disclaimer Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon the specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Sections 911, 924.1 (a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Sections 924.2 and 929). Response Requirements California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05 require that specific responses to all findings and recommendations contained in this report be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the San Joaquin County Superior Court within 90 days of receipt of the report. The Stockton Unified School District Governing Board of Trustee shall respond to each Finding and Recommendation contained in this report. Mail or hand deliver a hard copy of the response to: Honorable Lesley Holland, Presiding Judge San Joaquin County Superior Court P.O. Box 201022 Stockton, CA 95201 Also, please email the response to Ms. Trisa Martinez, Staff Secretary to the Grand Jury at grandjury@sjcourts.org