Urgent Action Needed on SB 907!
Help Protect the Broader Landscape of Educational Choices and Local Governance In California
We need your help to advocate against the passage of SB 907 by Senator Newman concerning the Orange County Board of Education!
Here's a summary of SB 907 and its impact:
1. SB 907 Overview
- SB 907 proposes to increase the Orange County Board of Education (OCBE) from 5 to 7 members and consolidate OCBE elections with the statewide general election in November of even-numbered years.
2. Key Points from Opposition
- The OCBE opposes SB 907, citing it as unnecessary interference in local control.
- They argue that Orange County already has the authority to adjust its board elections without state involvement.
- The bill's added costs, voter fatigue, and potential impact on education choice are major concerns.
3. Impact on charter schools and homeschooling
- SB 907's potential effects include increased election costs, complexity, and possible shifts in board priorities that could impact homeschooling policies and support for school choice.
In essence, SB 907's push for more board members and consolidated elections raises concerns about added costs, voter engagement challenges, and potential shifts in educational priorities affecting homeschooling and school choice in Orange County.
To read the full contents of the bill:
Why it matters:
I've heard from many of you that this bill may not seem relevant because it pertains to the Orange County Board of Education. However, that's precisely why it's crucial for all of us to take action and defeat this bill! ;)
If this bill succeeds in Orange County, it sets a concerning precedent. What's to stop similar actions from affecting your local decision-makers?
Local governance is crucial because our elected officials, who live among us, understand our needs best. We can directly engage with their offices to voice our needs, we may even see them and talk to them at the grocery store or a yogurt shop—places where I've actually bumped into OCBE members!
SB 907 is a sneaky attempt by state legislators to take away Orange County's autonomy in decision-making. Senator Newman is rallying State Senators and Assemblymembers, many of whom neither live in Orange County nor represent its citizens, to vote on issues impacting Orange County schools.
Consider this: Orange County residents opposing this bill can't reach out to legislators across California whom Senator Newman is rallying for support of his bill. Each legislator's office only registers feedback from their constituents. Newman is well aware that Orange County parents opposing his bill face limitations in voicing dissent. I've personally contacted his office, but it's evident he's indifferent to local concerns.
We urgently need your support to defeat this bill. If this bill passes, it could set a dangerous precedent for other communities in California, potentially undermining their local decision-making power. If your local decision-makers were under threat like this, wouldn’t you want us to stand up for your family?
Another critical point is that the Orange County Board of Education is pro-parent and supports charter schools, a vital aspect of educational choice. SB 907 threatens this support and aims to limit the OCBE's ability to approve and nurture charters in our state.
OCBE is one of the very few school boards that still values and authorizes charter schools in our state. SB 907 is a clear move against charter schools aimed to cripple OCBE’s ability to approve and support charters in our state.
I promise you that no matter what our legislators are saying about SB 907 that it is 100% an attack on charter schools in our state!
We all have seen the lengths they have been going to trying to limit charters in our state, this is just another attempt.
Many Orange County Board Of Education authorized charters serve students from all around Southern California. Please look at this list of wonderful charter schools the OCBE authorizes and supports.
We wouldn’t have those schools without the members of the OCBE.
This bill isn't just about one county; it's about the broader landscape of educational choices and local governance.
What You Can Do:
1. Contact Your Legislators: Use this form to find and contact your local Senator and Assembly member by phone and through their online contact form.
When calling the office, you simply say:
I’m a constituent in your district, my name is …, and I am calling to ask my representative to please vote no or to abstain from voting on SB 907 when they hear it. It’s a threat to local decision-making, and I’m against it.
The person answering the phone will ask you for your address to confirm that you live in their district.
If no one answers the phone, you can leave a message with your name, address, and statement asking them to vote no or abstain, as I wrote above. ;) This is a great option for those who get anxious when calling. Weekends are great for doing this!!
When using the contact form on their website:
You fill in the top of the form and then copy and paste this:
I am writing to ask that you please vote no or abstain from voting on SB 907 when you hear it. It’s a threat to local decision making and I’m against it.
2. Use the State Position Letter Form: Here's the form! You will use this form to oppose SB 907 officially. Fill out the top section, locating bill SB 907, select "oppose," and copy-paste the provided statement about the bill's negative impact.
I am writing to ask that you please vote no or abstain from voting on SB 907 when you hear it. It’s a threat to local decision-making, needless, and costly. Adding two additional trustees and forcing Orange County to change its election procedures burdens the taxpayer with excessive added costs. The California Senate Appropriations Committee has found that costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars would be incurred for the Orange County Registrar to add OCBE candidates to November election ballots resulting from adding an extra ballot card to presidential election cycle ballots to accommodate the additional contests. Plus, there will be significant information technology programming costs, and substantial staff time to make related changes.
Furthermore, the current five OCBE trustees have a direct cost budget (stipends and health benefits) for five of $175,000 or $35,000 each. Therefore, adding two more trustees would cost taxpayers at least an additional $700,000 over the next decade at a time when local education budgets are being cut and California faces a $68 billion budget deficit. Plus, the actual cost of redistricting the OCBE trustee areas for the election.
I’m against it, and you should be, too.
Additionally, here are some informative articles to deepen your understanding:
- Article by Stefan Bean, long time educator and advocate for parent choice.
For more details, you can refer to:
- OCBE Resolution against SB 907
- Another Group's Opposition Letter
Your action matters in protecting local decision-making and preserving educational options in our state. Let's stand together against SB 907!
