SBE Takes Action Against Alisal Union Elem School

For Immediate Release
March 30, 2010

Contact:
Regina Wilson
rwilson@cde.ca.gov
916-319-0693

State Board of Education Takes Immediate Action Against
Alisal Union Elementary School District

Sacramento – The State Board of Education (SBE) voted today to appoint the Monterey County Superintendent of Schools as the interim trustee of the Alisal Union Elementary School District based on the facts presented to the SBE regarding the district’s actions since March 11. The SBE determined that immediate action was necessary to preserve the district’s resources in order to protect the public interest. Below is a summary of the action the board has taken:

The SBE moved to apply Corrective Action 3 under section 52055.57 of the California Education Code and appoint the Monterey County Superintendent of Schools as the immediate interim temporary state trustee for the Alisal Union Elementary School District. The county superintendent will have stay and rescind authority over the Alisal Union Board of Trustees decisions, until the SBE appoints a permanent trustee at its May 2010 board meeting.

"The action taken today is an extension of the Board's March decision, and was called for by increasing instability in Alisal." said State Board President Ted Mitchell. "Our aim is to stabilize the situattion in Alisal in the short run and, in the long run, to help the community build the kind of district that its students deserve."

At the March 11 State Board meeting, the SBE voted unanimously to assign state trustees for the Alisal Union Elementary School District and Greenfield Union Elementary School District. Upon selection of the specific trustee for each district, the trustee would be responsible for determining appropriate actions aimed at increasing student achievement. The State Board instructed the California Department of Education (CDE) and State Board staff to immediately begin a process of consultation with the Alisal and Greenfield communities to determine the recommendations to the SBE for trustees, the communities desires for its schools, and gather insight into particular qualities that the community views as important for the trustee to possess. The Board directed President Mitchell, SBE, and CDE staff to identify a pool of qualified candidates and develop milestones and a timeline for the trustees to exit the district. The trustee is scheduled to be announced at the May 2010 board meeting.

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