SACRAMENTO — Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today issued the following statement regarding the passage of bills that authorizes state takeover of the Vallejo City Unified School District and reform the process for preventing   school districts from falling into financial trouble in the future.

"I am pleased that the Legislature has approved the bill that will provide critically needed assistance to keep the Vallejo School District from heading into bankruptcy," O'Connell said. "I urge Governor Schwarzenegger to quickly sign SB 1190 by Senator Wes Chesbro (D-Santa Rosa) to enable us to begin addressing the district's debt and rebuilding the fiscal health of the district.

"I am currently reviewing candidates to appoint as state administrator for the Vallejo School District. I intend to appoint an administrator who will improve student academic achievement while leading the district back into solid financial health as quickly as possible once SB 1190 is signed.  

"I also applaud the passage today of AB 2756 by Assemblymember Lynn Daucher (R-Brea). This bill will expand the ability of state and county governments to intervene in the process when schools are headed into financial trouble and provide greater sunshine on local school district budgets. As an increasing number of school districts in California are struggling with financial challenges, this reform is necessary and timely."