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What is a workshop?

Writer's picture: Lily SchwormLily Schworm

Updated: Sep 2, 2024

Warning, this is a long one.


What is a school board workshop?  Well, now I know.  Informal...interact with the public...never a vote.  I am still (and will always be) learning as a board member and getting to know the formal governance routines.  As I reviewed the video archive from our August 13th board meeting about the motion for a special meeting to discuss the bond materials that CVUSD will be mailing to all our registered voter households during this election cycle, multiple times the term "approval of the language" came up during the board discussion, with one trustee specifically asking, "Is there a way for us to approve this but with the contingency of you getting us the language and we send you our yes or no?"  I was under the impression that the Board President's motion to establish a workshop "at the time the language is prepared" would give us the opportunity to vote for approval.  That's why I was so surprised when our Board President said today that there was no vote. While we all did vote for that initial motion on the 13th, I clearly did not understand the implications of the term "workshop" and would have spoken up had I known what I now know.  In hindsight, I don't think the Board President's motion and our actions today as a board fulfilled the intended purpose of the original ask, although the blame is only our own.  


So why this special meeting?  Not only do we want to ensure that the flyer will be impartial, but also that the community has a chance to view it and give input.  However, the meeting was scheduled for 2:15 on a weekday, when most parents are either working or picking up their kids from school.  In addition, the mailer was not able to be viewed by the public (or the board) in advance of the meeting, and not everyone at the meeting even received a copy of the proposed mailer.   Per a CSBA article, "If a member of the governing body or staff of the local agency prepared the materials, and the governing body received the materials during the meeting, the public must have access to the materials during the meeting. (Gov. Code, § 54957.5, subd. (c).) If someone outside of the local agency prepared the materials and gave them to the governing body during the meeting, the public must receive access to the materials after the meeting. (Gov. Code, § 54957.5, subd. (c).)"  I recognize our district's consultant is not staff, and so might fall under the second category.  How can the public receive access to the materials currently, now that the meeting has concluded?  On the other hand, if he is considered staff as a consultant, what is our general strategy for giving the public access during a meeting? To me, that means eagerly offered to every attender or set out at the entrance next to the speaker cards. I hope next time we go above and beyond to provide access to the materials.


At this workshop, upon viewing the mailer for the first time, I expressed reservations regarding some of the wording, but was relieved to know that I was not the only one.  The presenter commented that the local taxpayer association was also troubled about the phrase, "IMPROVING CAJON VALLEY'S SCHOOLS WITH FUNDS THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN BY THE STATE."  I also voiced my concern about what seems to me to be incomplete information: "Measure W is a general obligation (GO) bond on the November 5, 2024, ballot.  If approved by 55% of votes cast, it will extend but not increase the district's current tax rate.  Measure W will provide $280 million for essential school improvements and help secure up to $132 million in state matching funds."  As a voter, I would like to see this summary include when the current bond ends, as well as the length of the new bond (total years collected) in order to present a balanced view of the essential information.  If we have the room to include the dollar amount received and the estimated average tax rate, then we should give the voters the cons to those perceived pros.  Remember: the goal here is balance.  Regardless of whether we each personally support this bond measure or not, I feel it is our duty to give the voters the essential information they should consider as they cast their vote.

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