From: Jack O'Connell
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 4:03 PM
To: 'superintendents-district@mlist.cde.ca.gov'; 'superintendents-
county@mlist.cde.ca.gov'; charters-direct@mlist.cde.ca.gov; charters-
local@mlist.cde.ca.gov
Subject: California Department of Education Update
Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:
As you are well aware, the ongoing national economic crisis and state budget shortfalls have forced school leaders to make difficult decisions at the district and school site level.
The state department of education has also been faced with deep across-the-board budget cuts in state funding and reduction of some federal funding. In addition, new laws regarding categorical flexibility are in effect that drastically change some of our work. At the same time, some new programs and requirements are coming online. We have been grappling with how to absorb these reductions and changes in the most responsible way. Throughout this process, I have asked my Chief Deputy Superintendent Gavin Payne and the rest of my leadership team to keep our core priorities of leading and supporting the continuous improvement of student achievement, with a specific focus on closing achievement gaps.
As we have been working through the difficult decision making process regarding our
reduced California Department of Education (CDE) budget, the recent departure of
Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Tony Monreal afforded us the
opportunity to consider other changes that can help us absorb these cuts without
diverging from our core mission.
As a result I am pleased to announce a new streamlined organizational structure at
CDE. This was accomplished, in part, by realizing cost savings through our current
freeze and budget frugality, which will continue. We have consolidated and distributed
the work of the former Curriculum and Instruction Branch into other areas of the
department, saving administrative costs and optimizing existing structures.
Next week, at the beginning of the new fiscal year, the following Branch and Division changes will be in effect:
Deputy Superintendent Deb Sigman will head the Curriculum, Learning and Accountability Branch which will include the following divisions: Accountability and Improvement, headed by Fred Balcom; Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources, headed by Tom Adams; a new English Learner and Curriculum Support Division headed by Phil Lafontaine; Policy and Evaluation, headed by Rachel Perry; Secondary, Postsecondary and Adult Leadership, headed by Pat Ainsworth; and Standards and Assessment, headed by J.T. Lawrence.
Deputy Superintendent Susie Lange will continue to head the Finance, Technology and Administration Branch with no changes to her reporting structure.
Deputy Superintendent Andrea Ball will head the Government Affairs and Charter Development Branch which will include the following divisions: Charter Schools, headed by Carol Barkley; Fiscal Policy, headed by Carol Bingham; and Legislative Affairs, headed by Lupita Cortez-Alcala.
Deputy Superintendent Marsha Bedwell will head the Legal, Audits and Compliance Branch which will include the following divisions: Audits and Investigations, headed by Kevin Chan; Legal, headed by Amy Bisson-Holloway; and a newly-created Categorical Compliance Division, headed by Hector Rico.
Deputy Superintendent Rick Miller will head the P-16 Policy and Information Branch which will include the following divisions: Child Development, headed by Camille Maben; Communications, headed by Hilary McLean; Data Management, headed by Keric Ashley; and Learning Support and Partnerships, headed by Gordon Jackson.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. William Ellerbee will head the Special Services and
Support Branch which will include the following divisions: Nutrition Services, headed
by Phyllis Bramson-Paul; School Facilities Planning, headed by Kathleen Moore;
Special Education, headed by Mary Hudler; and State Special Schools and Services,
headed by Ron Kadish.
I deeply believe this new configuration is responsive to our fiscal realities while continuing to focus on our mission of supporting the education of California’s 6.3 million students. There is no doubt that the days ahead will continue to bring challenges as we adjust work assignments to meet budget cuts. But even in these trying times I remain optimistic about our ability to deliver high-quality service to you and in our ability to help prepare all students to thrive in our challenging global economy.
Sincerely,
JACK O’CONNELL
JO:cc
