Setting the Record Straight

By Jerry Grier Wiggins

Review the Public Record

I would like to set the Record Straight on my positions on the following important issues within Trustee Area One of the Alameda County Board of Education.

Trustee Area One includes the Cities of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and portions of Oakland that include North Oakland and Chinatown /Central.

LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Local School Districts

Fact:

The County Board of Education adopted and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction accepted, a budget that maintains all mandated services to local districts.

The budget restored funding and resources for Juvenile Court and Community Schools which are run by the County Office of Education to serve those students that are no longer being served by local school districts. These programs are designed to serve the most academically and socially venerable kids in Alameda County, 80% of whom are African American and Latino. County Board member Enrique Palacios said," We will not balance the budget on the backs of those students that are the most "at risk" in Alameda County

I remain committed to ensuring the needs of local school districts are addressed as well as those needs of County operated services to those no longer served by school districts.

(Budget adopted 8/28/01)

Educational Services to our local school districts

Fact:

The Alameda County Office of Education, consistent with the Education Code, provides services and programs to 18 school districts, including compliance with state laws, fiscal oversight, accounting and data processing, teacher training, and assistance to under performing schools. Educational services to under performing schools and teacher training are grant-funded programs and supported by the County Board of Education. Under the Governor's proposed budget proposals, many of these grant funded programs maybe eliminated. I am committed to maintaining funding for educational services to our schools and local districts.

School Safety

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Fact:

Under the Education Code, the County Board of Education serves as an appeal board for the adjudication of expulsion appeals, interdistrict appeals, and Charter Schools. A review of the public record over the last three years shows the County Board of Education heard 14 appeals (less than 3 per year) and upheld the local school district on 10 (70%). Over the last 36 months, the County Board of Education overturned 4 appeals or roughly one per year. I remain committed to ensuring safety at our schools and protecting the rights of students.

County Board:

Fact:

The County Board of Education and the County Superintendent are all elected officials. Once elected, we assume divergent roles. We are participants in system of checks and balances. We operate in the same manner as the State Legislature and the Governor.

The role each of us plays in this balancing acts, at times, a difficult one and will continue to challenge our system during these periods of increased demand for services and limited increases in resources. This requires the County Board and the County Superintendent through the budget development process to establish priorities for services with mandated services to local school districts and schools and student services /programs operated by the County Superintendent of schools being the highest priorities.