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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 Schools

58 pages

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⚠️ 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.

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F44, F45, F46, F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60, F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73, F74, F75, F76, F77, F78, F79, F80, F81, F82, F83, F84, F85, F86, F87, F88, F89, F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F95, F96, F97, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102, F103, F104, F105, F106, F107, F108, F109, F110, F111, F112, F113, F114, F115, F116, F117, F118, F119, F120, F121, F122, F123, F124, F125, F126, F127, F128, F129, F130, F131, F132, F133, F134, F135, F136, F137, F138, F139, F140, F141, F142, F143, F144, F145, F146, F147, F148, F149, F150, F151, F152, F153, F154, F155, F156, F157, F158, F159, F160, F161, F162, F163, F164, F165, F166, F167, F168, F169, F170, F171, F172, F173, F174, F175, F176, F177, F178, F179, F180, F181, F182, F183, F184, F185, 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F850, F851, F852, F853, F854, F855, F856, F857, F858, F859, F860, F861, F862, F863, F864, F865, F866, F867, F868, F869, F870, F871, F872, F873, F874, F875, F876, F877, F878, F879, F880, F881, F882, F883, F884, F885, F886, F887, F888, F889, F890, F891, F892, F893, F894, F895, F896, F897, F898, F899, F900, F901, F902, F903, F904, F905, F906, F907, F908, F909, F910, F911, F912, F913, F914, F915

Findings 12 findings

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.

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.

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.

Local school identity is considered essential to any organization or administrative configuration of schools and school districts.

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.

There are five small schools districts in Nevada County, three with fewer than five hundred students.

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.

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 2

The dispute with the TFPD was a result of DSPUD staff failure to execute the contracts with Nevada County for two years to provide fire services to County Service Area 31 and other Nevada and Placer County areas outside the DSPUD. It involved approximately $63,000 claimed by DSPUD and the TFPD cross-complaint for $164,462 in damages. The settlement provided that DSPUD receive $25,000 to be spent to upgrade of the water distribution system and $5000 to upgrade the fire station to meet code. TFPD will spend $33,000 to upgrade the fire equipment serving the Donner Summit area. Donner Summit Public Utility District 17 3

F10

Under the agreement between the DSPUD and SLCWD, DSPUD is entitled to 56% of the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant capacity and SLCWD is entitled to 44 %. DSPUD has 83 registered voters from which to draw Board members. SLCWD has no representation on the DSPUD Board.

F11

For ten months of the year, DSPUD discharges wastewater to the South Yuba River in the amount of 0.52 million gallons per day with the capacity to be expanded to 0.80 million gallons per day by 2010. In dry or cold years, the stream is low, and high wastewater flows can be discharged into low stream flows. Conclusions

F916

231.4111 Maximizing Protection. Toll-free 800.537.7790 Minimizing Risk, www.sdrma.org This endorsement changes the memorandum of coverage. Please read it carefully. COVERAGE PERIOD: 7/1/2004 through 6/30/2005 ADDITIONAL NAMED AGENCY County of Nevada MEMBER AGENCY Donner Summit Public Utility District Attn: Tom Martin 950 Maldu Post Office Box 610 Nevada City, California 95959 Soda Springs, California 95728-0610 This endorsement modifies the Memorandum of Coverage provided under the following: Personal Injury and Property Damage Liability Coverage - General Liability General Issuer: Special District Risk Management Authority - Coverage LCA-SDRMA-200405 Coverage Limits: $2,500,000 Per Occurrence It is hereby agreed that this endorsement is added to the Memorandum of Coverage issued to Donner Summit Public Utility District by Special District Risk Management Authority the following entity is named as an Additional Covered Member. County of Nevada, its officers, agents and employees are named as additionally covered members with respect to the contract fire protection emergency rescue and ambulance services provided to Nevada County Service Area No. 31, The coverage afforded by this ENDORSEMENT shall be primary with respect to any other valid and collectible insurance County of Nevada may possess, including any self insured retention County of Nevada may have, and any other insurance the does possess shall be considered excess insurance only and shall not be called upon to contribute with this insurance, except for the sole negligence of County of Nevada. Coverage shall not be extended to any indemnity coverage for the active negligence of the additional named member in any case where an agreement to Indemnify the additional named member would be invalid under Subdivision (b) of Section 2782 of the Civil Code. All other terms and conditions remained unchanged. Coverage provided by this endorsement, under the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the Memorandum of Coverage issued by SDRMA to Donner Summit Public Utility District shall not be reduced or canceled without thirty (30) days written notice given to the County of Nevada certified mail. THIS ENDORSEMENT CHANGES THE MEMORANDUM OF COVERAGE, PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. ADDITIONAL NAMED AGENCY The inclusion of more than one Covered Member shall not operate to impair the rights of one Covered Member against another Covered Member and the coverages afforded shall apply as though separate policies have been issued to each Covered Member. Effective date of this endorsement Is: July 2, 2004 SPECIAL DISTRICT RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY Signed by: Jafnes W, Towns, ARM Chief Executive Officer CSDA Finance Corporation Coblornia Special Districts Association 1112 | Street, Suite 203 An alliance committed to rerving 1112 | Street, Suite 200 Sacramento, California 95814 2865 California's independent special districts Secremento, California 95814-2865 Toll-free B77,924,CSDA (2732) earneylaskyrke.com Tult-free B77.924.CSDA (2732) Fax 916,442,7889 Cax 916.442.7889 077 CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE Issue Date (MM/DDYYYY) 11:11:3 This is to cartify that coverages fisted below have been issued to the member named below for the period indicated notwithstanding any requirement, term, or condition of any contract or other document with respect to which herein is subject to all the terms, exclusions, and conditions of the specific coverage document; limits shown may have been reduced by paid claims. This certificate of insurance or binder evidences the limits of liability in effect at the inception of the policies shown. This certificate is issued as a matter of information only and confers no rights upon the certificate holder. This certificate does not arriend, extend or after the coverage afforded by the policies listed below. Company Affording Coverage: Member Number: Special District Risk Management Authority Participating Member: BOP-6826 1112 | Street, Suite 300 Donner Summit Public Utilities District Sacramento, California 95814 Post Office Box 610 www.sdrma.org Toll-Free 800.537.7790 Soda Springs, CA 95728-0610 Limits Expiration Date Effective Date Policy Number 06/30/2005 Type of Coverage 07/01/2004 LCA-SDRMA-200405 $2,500,000 General Liability Per Accident $2,500,000 Per Occurrence Personal Injury Liability - Auto Personal Injury Liability - General The Certificate Holder, its officers, agents and employees are named as Additional Insured, BY ENDORSEMENT, with respect to the contract fire protection emergency rescue and ambulance services provided to Nevada County Service Area No. 31. See attached endorsement. Cancellation: Should any of the above-described policies be cancelled before the expiration dates thereof, the issuing company will endeavor to mail 0 days written notice to the above-named certificate holder, but failure to mail such notice shall impose no obligation or Loss Payee liability of any kind upon the company. X Additional Issured Certificate Expiration Date Effective Dale Evidence of Coverage Type: 06/30/2005 07/01/2004 Certificate Dates: CERTIFICATE HOLDER ATTN: Tom Martin County of Nevada Authorized Signature 950 Maldu Nevada City, CA 95959 1112 I Street, Suite 300 Sacramento, California 95814-2865 Special District Risk Management Authority T 916.231.4141

Recommendations 11

R1

The CCSDO should be active and meet on a regular monthly or quarterly basis.
R2

The 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.
R3

CCSDO 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.
R4

The 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.
R5

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. Agree
R6

There are five small school districts in Nevada County, three with fewer than five hundred students. Agree
R7

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. Agree
R8

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 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. Disagree The county committee has no jurisdiction over layoffs, position management, personnel or budget decisions. Recommendations
R9

The dispute with the TFPD was a result of DSPUD staff failure to execute the contracts with Nevada County for two years to provide fire services to County Service Area 31 and other Nevada and Placer County areas outside the DSPUD. It involved approximately $63,000 claimed by DSPUD and the TFPD cross- complaint for $164,462 in damages. The settlement provided that DSPUD receive $25,000 to be spent to upgrade of the water distribution system and $5000 to upgrade the fire station to meet code. TFPD will spend $33,000 to upgrade the fire equipment serving the Donner Summit area. Partially agree. The dispute between DSPUD and TFPD was the result of TFPD's breaching the contract between the two districts found in the Nevada County LAFCo annexation documents. Additionally, the contracts referred to in the Grand Jury report were not forwarded to Donner Summit Public Utility District as Nevada County asserted that the insurance certificates which were required by contract had not been provided to Nevada County. However, the insurance certificates
R10

56% of the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant capacity and SLCWD is entitled to 44 %. DSPUD has 83 registered voters from which to draw Board members. SLCWD has no representation on the DSPUD Board. c Agree. For ten months of the year, DSPUD discharges wastewater to the South Yuba
R11

River in the amount of 0.52 million gallons per day with the capacity to be expanded to 0.80 million gallons per day by 2010. In dry or cold years, the stream is low, and high wastewater flows can be discharged into low stream flows. Disagree. The DSPUD discharges into the South Yuba River between 9 or 10 months of the year depending on river flow. The DSPUD discharges an average of 0.25 million gallons per day into the South Yuba not 0.52 as represented by the jury. The District may seek to have the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant upgraded from 0.52MGD to 0.80 MGD. Grand Juror Paul Leyton was made aware of these facts but the Grand Jury chose not to revise its findings accordingly. Responses to Recommendations В. The District should embark on an extensive training program to equip the Board