School Board Discussion

HIRING AND FIRING STAFF

Superintendent Termination:

• The termination of the superintendent without cause and subsequently negotiating a contract buyout carries financial implications. The associated costs, including severance packages and legal fees, drain precious funds from the district's general budget. These financial setbacks could otherwise be directed toward educational programs and resources that directly benefit students.

Costly Superintendent Search:

• Following the termination of a superintendent, the need to initiate a search for a replacement adds an additional financial burden to the general fund. This expenditure includes the costs associated with hiring search firms and conducting interviews, diverting resources away from the classroom.

LEGAL FEES: LAWYERS AND LAWSUITS

Questionable Use of Resources:

• Enlisting multiple law firms for board legal matters raises concerns about effective fund allocation. This strategy risks redundancy and increased expenses. The majority board's choice to engage three more law firms—Epstein, Becker, and Green; Orbach and Huff; Advocates for Faith and Freedom—in addition to TVUSD's existing firms on retainer raises questions about the reasoning behind such decisions.

• Article regarding An Unnecessary Contract

Unlawful Actions:

• Legal actions arising from the board majority's decision to disregard EdCode and State laws could potentially drain district funds through legal proceedings and also divert valuable time and energy away from educational priorities. District funds would be better spent on enhancing the educational experience for students rather than addressing legal disputes.

Riverside Schools Insurance Authority (RSIA) JPA:

• Riverside Schools Insurance Authority (RSIA) is a public agency formed exclusively to provide financial protection for its members. JPA represents our school board with lawsuit defense and advice for free.

ORGANIZATIONAL/RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Wasteful Special Board Meetings:

• Holding special “emergency” board meetings that necessitate additional security, resources, and personnel can contribute to fiscal irresponsibility. Such expenses, while occasionally necessary, need to be carefully evaluated to ensure that the benefits outweigh the financial costs.

Unnecessary Workshops and Trainings:

• The district incurred substantial costs for the Critical Race Theory board workshop and teacher training last March. Money spent paying for the panel of speakers and substitutes would have been better spent on educational programs for students and resources and trainings for teachers.

Delayed Textbook Adoption:

• The necessity of convening special board meetings to address these delays and the requirement to compensate teachers for their time spent reviewing recommendations during their summer break both incur financial burdens. Following through on textbook adoptions that follow board policy is crucial for financial efficiency and academic continuity.

Impact on Students:

• The cumulative effect of fiscal irresponsibility has a direct impact on students' educational experiences. Resources that could have been allocated to innovative programs, updated materials, teacher development, direct student support (staffing), and classroom technology are instead compromised by decisions that drain the general fund.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. Do you believe the board is currently making decisions that may have long term financial impacts on TVUSD?

2. Should the general fund be prioritized to support student -focused initiatives rather than school board business?

3. Why are our board members NOT utilizizing the law firms currently on retainer for TVUSD and choosing to hire additional outside counsel to handle new board business?

4. Why doesn’t our board utilize free legal defense like JPA?

5. Is the board focusing on funding personal agendas over student success?

6. Why can't the district afford to have certain teacher trainings and support professional development this year?

In the pursuit of effective governance, a school board's commitment to fiscal responsibility is paramount. The instances highlighted above underscore the importance of making judicious decisions that prioritize the educational needs of students while minimizing financial strain on the district. A responsible school board must carefully consider the long-term consequences of their actions, ensuring that every dollar spent contributes directly to the enrichment of students' learning environments. Please use these questions to spark conversations with your site reps or contact TVEAPac@gmail.com with your questions and/or concerns.

This Friday look for our next topic:
Are TVUSD Board Trustees creating a safe environment for ALL students and teachers?

If you missed the previous Communiques you can read them here:

Part 1 Is the TVUSD School Board Demonstrating Good Governance?