EdCal EdCalv47.19

Avoiding March 15 notice pitfalls

Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 47 | Number 19 | February 27 , 2017

Linda Irving , superintendent / principal with Sebastopol Union SD , networks with small school district superintendents prior to a Thursday workshop .

Superintendents gather for professional learning

More than 500 California public school superintendents traveled to Indian Wells this month for three days of professional learning opportunities at the 2017 ACSA Superintendents ’ Symposium .
“ This was an incredible event ,” said ACSA President Ralph Porras . “ The diverse lineup of professional development workshops and keynote speakers provided instant growth for our school district leaders .”
All of the professional learning opportunities were based on strands , learning modules focused on topics including leadership , accountability , equity , technology implementation , and so much more .
Three keynote speakers brought insight to event participants .
Leading urban sociologist Pedro Noguera presented on Challenging Racial Inequality in Our Schools . Noguera discussed homework as an equity issue , empowering teachers , and how top down pressure in districts rarely leads to improvement .
Additional keynote speakers included Hadi Parvoti discussing Computer Science - Debunking Myths and Opening Doors ; Carol Dweck , author of Mindset ; as well as California gubernatorial candidate Delaine Eastin ,
More symposium photos on page 5
Periodicals
Dated Material who spoke at the Women ’ s Leadership Breakfast .
Chico Unified School District Superintendent Kelly Staley was one of the event organizers and said the presentation on the 2017-18 California state budget is one of the most valuable workshops .
“ Each year I look forward to the budget presentations , as this is frequently one of the first opportunities to hear information regarding the upcoming year ’ s budget ,” Staley said . “ It also provides an excellent forum in which to discuss the impact the budget proposal will have on educational programs .”
ACSA Executive Director Wes Smith believes the 2017 Symposium was a highly beneficial leadership event for the state ’ s superintendents .
“ This is the only event of this kind in the state and we understand the responsibility we have to provide workshops to our members that directly benefit students ,” he said .
“ I ’ m proud of the practical and usable information we ’ ve delivered and I think next year ’ s Symposium will be an event you can ’ t miss .”
The 2018 Superintendents Symposium will return to Monterey . Registration will be available soon at www . acsa . org .

LAO more optimistic on state budget

The Legislative Analyst ’ s Office has issued a report with their take on the governor ’ s Proposition 98 budget proposal , plus some of his specific policy proposals for K‐12 education .
The LAO notes that the governor has moved the Prop . 98 guarantee down somewhat in his proposal , dropping it by $ 379 million in 2015-16 and by $ 506 million in 2016-17 . These are not surprises as there has been a corresponding drop in General Fund revenues .
The LAO notes the governor is proposing to handle this slight downward shift primarily by deferring some program costs into the 2016-17 and 2017-18 fiscal years . The upcoming fiscal year guarantee will increase by slightly over $ 2 billion , as the state continues its modest growth pace . The governor is proposing to use this increase to eliminate short-term deferrals and giving a COLA to the LCFF . The LAO and governor continue their annual dance over revenue expectations , with the LAO tending to be somewhat more optimistic and the governor somewhat more cautious .
In past years , this scenario has played out with revenues coming in closer to the LAO ’ s expectations .
The LAO report states their belief that by May , revenue in 2017‐18 could be sig-
See LAO , page 2

Avoiding March 15 notice pitfalls

In uncertain budget years , March 15 layoff notices loom large . Despite state budget uncertainty , districts will need to meet the current law regarding informing personnel of pending layoffs , demotions or reassignments . The following article listing some common questions is intended to provide background information on the issue . The information is supplied by the ACSA Member Assistance and Legal Support Team : John Almond , Sharon Dezutti , Joseph Jones , Janet Morey , Rod Todd , Bill Tschida and Lloyd Wamhoff .
Exactly what is a March 15 notice ?
It ’ s a notice given by districts to administrators notifying them that they may be released , demoted , or reassigned for the following school year beginning July 1 .
So the notice may be delivered `to See MARCH 15 , page 3
A study from the National School Boards Association ’ s Center for Public Education finds that far too many students still attend segregated schools . However , “ School Segregation Then and Now ” reports that schools with more diversity also have more potential to help students toward greater academic and social success .
According to the study , the composition of school populations matters for improving outcomes for students and their communities , and , in the bigger picture , the longterm stability and prosperity of our nation . The positive effects of diversity should be encouraged and education policymakers can and should advance their efforts to purposefully increase diversity .
Clarification . An article in the Feb . 6 edition of EdCal may have given an erroneous perception on the origin of a report about student data in West Contra Costa County USD . The report was published by a partner organization , Go Public Schools , and not by the district itself . It should be noted that some of the report ’ s recommendations have already been implemented by the district in their ongoing efforts to improve student achievement .
Credentialing cohort . ACSA and Sacramento COE are recruiting candidates for the Leadership Institute ' s next cohort . The Institute will help candidates obtain a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential . Informational meetings are planned for March 22 and 28 at the San Bernardino City SD . For information and reservations , email credentialing @ acsa . org .
Undocumented students . The Undocumented Students and Families : The Facts legal guidance sheet is now available in Spanish . The translated document can be found on ACSA ’ s Advocacy page or at bit . ly / undspanish .
CalTPA meeting . The CalTPA Coordinators meeting will be held March 24 at Brandman University in Irvine . If you are attending you must register at https :// www . surveymonkey . com / r / CalTPA2017 by March 3 .
Advancing careers . Master the moves of career advancement with courage , skill and confidence in the Gain a Competitive Edge workshop from ACSA . This workshop provides smart strategies to help you build your job seeking skills and gain confidence as you prepare for upcoming career opportunities . This workshop is designed for aspiring school leaders ready to move on to the next level in their careers . Upcoming dates are April 1 in Sacramento , April 22 in Irvine , May 13 in Ontario and June 3 in Burlingame . Register at https :// goo . gl / Nx83qp .

NSBA study finds diversity benefits for all students

“ We know integrated schools are the best environment for learning academics and the social skills students need to prosper in a diverse society ,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Thomas J . Gentzel . “ That ’ s a powerful argument to continue working diligently to ease the racial and socioeconomic isolation of students in our public education system .”
In its examination of school segregation across the nation , the Center for Public Education study found :
• Shifting demographics have changed how often students of different races attend the same schools .
• Despite progress , many students are
See DIVERSITY , page 2