Friday is the deadline to apply for the 11-member panel. For information on applying, go to http://www.sbcoe.org/CCSDO.htm.
HOLLISTER
School leaders have taken steps toward re-forming a long-absent San Benito County panel whose members make decisions over major changes to the 11 districts here.
The committee’s pending revival carries potential to significantly alter the education system’s makeup. But leaders also have few if any expectations heading into the process, and county Superintendent Mike Sanchez stressed that “by no means” does its re-formation signal an overhal of any kind is on the table.
Sanchez, who succeeded longtime Superintendent Tim Foley, has worked with area education leaders in recent months toward reestablishing the County Committee on School District Organization. It was a major priority for the superintendent when he started in January.
Leaders from county districts came together in February to kick-off discussions on the topic. There, they requested Sanchez tour all 11 districts. He has done so since then and said in an interview with the Free Lance the visits were “something he wanted to do anyway.”
He called the 11-member panel’s reestablishment “our duty as a county office of education” and noted its members will respond to any and all proposals from the community.
“The idea is to be poised and ready in case a need arises in our county,” he said.
Look for an expanded version of this story in The Weekend Pinnacle on May 8.
According to a summary provided by Sanchez, the committee can respond to the following:
– Transfer of territory between/among school districts
– District unification or de-unification
– Dissolution or lapsation of a district
– Annexation of all or part of one district to another
– Establishment/abolishment of trustee areas and increase/decrease in the number of trustees
– Formation of new districts of all types from territory of existing districts
General information:
– It is an 11-member committee.
– There are two appointees from each supervisorial district and one member serving at large.
– The term of office is two or four years and begins upon selection.
– The members are elected by school board members from each of the 11 districts.
– The meeting schedule, determined by the committee, can be monthly, quarterly or yearly.
– The meetings are subject to Brown Act provisions.
– There is no pay, but members are reimbursed for travel expenses.
– Any decision by the committee can be appealed to the State Board of Education.
