Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Soquel Union Elementary School Board – Full Disclosure is Not Optional –
⚠️ 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 and Recommendations 8 findings
F1
The Grand Jury finds that the Board has violated the Brown Act on at least two occasions. These violations were due to the lack of open session discussion regarding the superintendent's contract and incomplete reporting of closed session decisions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board must follow the state law and their District policies by adopting practices that will inform the public of the details of their decisions and their decision process. As noted in the report the Brown act provides a baseline for public disclosure. Debating and giving reasoned explanations for their decisions in open meetings will improve public support and participation. (F1, F3, F4)
F2
The Board chose to add the superintendent's expenses to his annual salary. While this is contrary to the spirit of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act adopted in 2012, the practice is commonplace for superintendents hired before 2013.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
If the Board chooses to grant the Superintendent a salary raise in excess of the percentage granted to District Bargaining Units, they should announce the amount together with the Superintendent’s annual performance goals and discuss the increase in a public meeting. (F2, F3)
F3
There is history of poor communication and mistrust of the Board and District administration by the public they serve.
Related Recommendations (7)
R1
The Board must follow the state law and their District policies by adopting practices that will inform the public of the details of their decisions and their decision process. As noted in the report the Brown act provides a baseline for public disclosure. Debating and giving reasoned explanations for their decisions in open meetings will improve public support and participation. (F1, F3, F4)
R2
If the Board chooses to grant the Superintendent a salary raise in excess of the percentage granted to District Bargaining Units, they should announce the amount together with the Superintendent’s annual performance goals and discuss the increase in a public meeting. (F2, F3)
R4
Soquel Union Elementary School District should make available on their website an easily filed complaint form with guidelines. (F3, F4)
R5
The Board should include a summary of complaint topics received since their last meeting in the meeting minutes. All complaint topics should be summarized, including Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure, Uniform Complaint Process, Freedom Of Information Act, email, etc. (F3, F4)
R6
The District administration should provide accounting reports to the HSCs in accordance with mutually agreed content and frequency. (F3, F6, F7)
R7
The Board should include public recognition, recorded in meeting minutes, of all financial contributions from HSCs and other contributors of funds to the District. (F3, F6)
R8
At the beginning of each school year and after consulting with the school principal, a proposed budget should be prepared by each HSC outlining the plans for donations in excess of $500. The plan should be submitted to the District for final approval. (F3, F6, F7)
F4
The lack of an adequate, posted complaint procedure and problem resolution process contributes to the mistrust of the District and Board.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
The Board must follow the state law and their District policies by adopting practices that will inform the public of the details of their decisions and their decision process. As noted in the report the Brown act provides a baseline for public disclosure. Debating and giving reasoned explanations for their decisions in open meetings will improve public support and participation. (F1, F3, F4)
R4
Soquel Union Elementary School District should make available on their website an easily filed complaint form with guidelines. (F3, F4)
R5
The Board should include a summary of complaint topics received since their last meeting in the meeting minutes. All complaint topics should be summarized, including Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure, Uniform Complaint Process, Freedom Of Information Act, email, etc. (F3, F4)
F5
The Board has failed to adequately develop and report performance standards for the superintendent.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Board should include in the Superintendent’s performance standard a goal of reaching an agreement between the District and the HSCs that specifies accounting report content and frequency. (F5, F7)
F6
Although HSC contributions are a significant part of the discretionary budget for schools in the District, they are not well managed and they do not receive adequate public recognition.
Related Recommendations (3)
R6
The District administration should provide accounting reports to the HSCs in accordance with mutually agreed content and frequency. (F3, F6, F7)
R7
The Board should include public recognition, recorded in meeting minutes, of all financial contributions from HSCs and other contributors of funds to the District. (F3, F6)
R8
At the beginning of each school year and after consulting with the school principal, a proposed budget should be prepared by each HSC outlining the plans for donations in excess of $500. The plan should be submitted to the District for final approval. (F3, F6, F7)
F7
There is no policy in place to reconcile HSC donations with District expenditures. The proposed contract policy between the District and contributors of donations in excess of $500 is intended to address this issue.
Related Recommendations (3)
R3
The Board should include in the Superintendent’s performance standard a goal of reaching an agreement between the District and the HSCs that specifies accounting report content and frequency. (F5, F7)
R6
The District administration should provide accounting reports to the HSCs in accordance with mutually agreed content and frequency. (F3, F6, F7)
R8
At the beginning of each school year and after consulting with the school principal, a proposed budget should be prepared by each HSC outlining the plans for donations in excess of $500. The plan should be submitted to the District for final approval. (F3, F6, F7)
F8
Because HSC contributions for teacher supplies are combined with contributions from other sources, accounting to individual donors for each teacher's expenses is impractical.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The District should assume all responsibility for funding and managing teacher supply accounts and/or define a clear donation policy for contributions to teacher accounts. (F8)
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 14C1. The SCCOE and all of the districts in its jurisdiction have worked together to successfully complete a difficult upgrade of their accounting system.