BCSD to grand jury: 'recommendations will not be implemented'

Here's something that we missed a while back, but that deserves a quick mention:

The Bakersfield City School District responded to a Kern County grand jury investigation of school site councils in the district. BCSDin a response essentially said the campus governing boards inform the public of meetings, train all participants and operate under legal requirements.

The grand jury in June took a look at the councils, recommended that staff members be better trained, communicate more with teachers and parents and be more careful about spending money.

The investigation was sparked by articles in The Californian that looked at the school governing bodies' new (as of last school year), high-level decision-making duties.

BCSD decided in February it could no longer fund vice principals, counselors and librarians as it tried to close a $5.5 million budget gap. Instead the district gave site councils -- composed of a principal, teachers, other staff, parents and students -- authority to fund those jobs or not using their campus-specific state and federal funding.

The grand jury committee attended council meetings at five BCSD elementary schools, and found that agendas were posted improperly or not at all, jury members perceived the principal was running the meeting instead of being an adviser as specified by the California Department of Education, communication lacked among members lacked, no minutes or records of decisions were kept

The district had 90 days to respond (today was the deadline), and in July, it did.

BCSD contends first that the grand jury does not have the authority to investigate school site councils.

“… it is the District’s view that the Grand Jury has no authority to investigate matters that extend beyond the procedural operations of the District.”

And the district wrote that councils operate independently from the district “pursuant to state and federal law.”

“Although the District does have the responsibility to ensure that SSCs are established, it does not govern the operations of the SSCs.”

As for the 10 grand jury recommendations to the district for the councils — which include posting agendas on an information board outside of campus, be more aware of expenditures, and for principals to not chair meetings — BCSD said they would not be implemented.

“The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted,” reads the response to most of the suggestions.

http://www.bakersfield.com/archive/x435842508/BCSD-to-grand-jury-recommendations-will-not-be-implemented