CUSD's New LCAP Excludes Public From Input On How District Funds Are To Be Spent

Trustees, not the Superintendent, represent the interests of students, parents and taxpayers in all matters before the Board. In order for School Districts to meet requirements of Public Disclosure, the public must have an opportunity to express their views to Trustees.

Communications with District Staff and the Superintendent do not meet the requirements of Public Disclosure.

At the November 6, 2013 Board meeting, CUSD presented a Local Control Accountability Plan that limits Public input to written questions to Superintendent Farley. The plan also specifies that the Public will receive a written response to each letter from the Superintendent.
 
The LCAP that District Staff presented to Trustees at the November 6, 2013 Board meeting should be amended to include parent involvement in all phases of the plan, and should provide for open communication between the Public and Trustees. 

The "new" Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) legislation is designed to address funding inequities, and give school districts more flexibility in spending decisions. "Parent Involvement" and "Student Engagement" are among new priorities spelled out in the Law.

Each District is required to adopt a LCAP- Local Control Accountability Plan. To comply with the spirit of the law, the plan's adoption must include include ALL Stake-holders.

Meetings and discussions should be open to the public, and should not be limited to hand picked Parent Advisory Committees.  The only way to initiate a broader "discussion" of how new money is to be spent, is by encouraging open and honest discussion. Limiting public input to written questions and answers during phase 3 of the plan is not transparency, and does not comply with the spirit of the law which seeks to give Parents and taxpayers a more defined seat at the collective bargaining table, and a greater role in deciding how District funds can be better spent to fuel student achievement.