4 EDCAL April 22, 2019
Region News
Region 4 holds Policy Forum
On Wednesday, March 27, ACSA
Region 4 held its first ever Policy Forum
Panel at the Solano County Office of Edu-
cation. This two-hour forum was a fantastic
opportunity for ACSA regional and charter
officers and regional council/committee
representatives, along with administrative
staff, school board members and communi-
ty leaders to hear and learn about the future
of public education. As California has a
new governor, as well as a new superinten-
dent of public instruction, this information
was insightful and informative.
The forum featured a panel of education
policy and legislative experts made up of
ACSA Senior Director of State Govern-
mental Relations Edgar Zazueta, Califor-
nia School Boards Association Assistant
Executive Director of Governmental
Relations Dennis Meyers, School Services
of California Director of Governmental
Relations Leilani Aguinaldo, and Capitol
Advisors Partner Barrett Snider. ACSA
Region 4 President and Superintendent of
Solano County Office of Education Lisette
Estrella-Henderson moderated the forum.
The topics that were covered included the
governor’s budget, major policy proposals
including charter schools and labor rela-
tionship as well as potential changes on the
State Board of Education and within the
California Department of Education.
Attendees were engaged and felt that
they received new information that made
them better prepared for Legislative Action
Day.
Region 12 announces AOY winners
Region 12 has announced its region-
al Administrator of the Year winners as
follows:
Superintendent: James Q. Hammond,
Ontario-Montclair SD.
Classified Leader: Karla Rhay, Califor-
nia Schools JPA.
Business Services: Richard De Nava,
San Bernardino County Superintendent of
Schools.
Secondary Principal: Cary Willborn,
Chaffey Joint Union HSD.
Human Resources: Marcus Funchess,
San Bernardino City USD.
ACSA Region 4 recently held its first ever Policy Forum Panel featuring, from left, ACSA Senior Director of State Governmental Relations Edgar Zazueta, ACSA Region
4 President and Superintendent of Solano County Office of Education Lisette Estrella-Henderson, California School Boards Association Assistant Executive Director of
Governmental Relations Dennis Meyers, School Services of California Director of Governmental Relations Leilani Aguinaldo, and Capitol Advisors Partner Barrett Snider.
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Student Services: Janae Susan Holtz,
San Bernardino County Superintendent of
Schools.
Elementary Principal: Patti Buchmiller,
Redlands USD.
Adult Education: Dana Carter, Yucai-
pa-Calimesa Joint USD.
Career Technical Education: Lori La-
timer, Adelanto Elementary SD.
Central Office: Robin McIver-Brown,
San Bernardino County Superintendent of
Schools.
Continuation/Ed Options: Andres Luna
II, Rialto USD.
Secondary Co-Administrator: Persida
Torres, San Bernardino City USD.
Special Education: Alana
Hughes-Hunter, Ontario-Montclair SD.
Elementary Co-Administrator: Nikia
Owens, Fontana USD.
Technology: Jamie Cortz, Redlands
USD.
Partners in Educational Excellence:
Dorothy C. Blakely Memoir Project,
Robert Isbell, Founder, Victor Valley Union
HSD, and Dr. Mary Langer Thompson,
Director, High Desert California Writers
Club.
Valuing Diversity: Melissa Rubio, Rialto
USD.
Retired: Barbara Kimball, Retired Edu-
cational Managers Charter of R12.
Wilson Grace Award: James Marinis
(Region 12 only award).
Region 12 also selected its student
award winners as follows:
Every Student Succeeds Award: Valeria
Montes, Chino Valley USD.
High School Scholarships ($1,000):
Sofia Balingit, Beaumont USD.
High School Scholarships ($1,000):
Alexis Buss, Chino Valley USD.
High School Scholarships ($1,000):
Anthony Dundon, Hesperia USD.
High School Scholarships ($1,000):
Maria Malana, Victor Valley Union HSD.
High School Scholarships ($1,000):
Alexia Oduro, Chaffey Joint Union HSD.
High School Scholarships ($1,000):
Reece Conkle, Snowline Joint USD.
Targeted Assistance is your “special ops” for collective bargaining
The following article was written by John Roach, Executive Director, NASS.
ACSA Executive Director Wes Smith is frequently contacted by ACSA superinten-
dents who ask for short-term assistance with something that is eating at them.
Frequently, they ask, “Do you have anyone who can help me get along better with
my board or with negotiations?” Smith originally thought he wanted his own version
of Seal Team Six to send into districts to help solve tough problems for member
superintendents. Practicality and common sense got the better of him, and instead
he created the Targeted Assistance Program to provide support for superintendents
in two areas: governance issues and the collective bargaining arena.
Under the leadership of Frank Adelman and Trudy Arriaga, ACSA’s Collective
Bargaining Targeted Assistance team is able to respond quickly to a request and
provide the needed assistance. When a superintendent reaches out to ask for
help, Adelman or Arriaga will speak with them to help focus on what the request
is really for.
Principals’ Summer
Institute
June 23-29, 2019
Institute for New &
Aspiring Principals
June 24-28, 2019
The Targeted Assistance team member is not an attorney, an accountant or a com-
munications guru, but he or she is able to quickly tell you if that is what you need.
The team member is an experienced superintendent who not only has sat in the
superintendent’s chair, but also sat at the bargaining table and dealt with many of
the same issues that are facing superintendents today.
A superintendent might ask for someone to be a critical friend who will email and
call regularly to simply provide advice. This mentoring can be invaluable when a
superintendent just wants some guidance and assurance that he or she is on the
right track. Knowing that can make all the difference when things get heated.
Some superintendents have simply wanted assistance in putting together initial
proposals in response to what the employee group has asked for. They want to be
respectful of the employees as well as the process. The Targeted Assistance team
member can assist with this as well as providing a solid rationale for the superinten-
dent to refer to when sunshining the proposal at a board meeting.
A Northern California district has asked for someone to mentor the district’s bar-
gaining team. Prior to arrival, the ACSA consultant had the district budget reviewed
by an independent third party. The consultant reviewed every section of the col-
lective bargaining agreement and provided suggestions for language modification.
Conference calls were held to determine status and position. A face-to-face meeting
with the district team was held prior to the first bargaining session to outline roles
and expectations. The consultant came to every bargaining session and coached
during caucuses and by notes passed at the table. The assistant superintendent was
the spokesman and remained so throughout the process. An agreement between the
parties was reached and labor peace was achieved.
A district in Southern California asked for someone to do the bargaining. ACSA
provided the consultant and an agreement was reached without rancor. ACSA can
provide the analysis, the negotiator and an outsider’s view of the district budget to
help the superintendent know that he or she is being both fair and smart.
ACSA can assist the district with its communications plan for collective bargaining.
What information is going to the board, the leadership team, the staff and the
public needs to be decided. The frequency of communication is important and can
contribute to the success of negotiations. It is better if the district staff is creating
the communication piece, but the targeted assistance consultant can review it for
accuracy and tone.
A superintendent will be getting an experienced negotiator who has been successful
as a superintendent to provide help when it is needed. The service will be cheaper
and far less turbulent.
If your district could use some Targeted Assistance in bargaining, contact
Frank Adelman at 530-355-9011 or Trudy Arriaga at 805-766-3377. Make the
call. You won’t regret it.