CASBO Connect

Is California doing a better job of getting resources that turn into opportunities and access for students into the right places? Are major investments in new initiatives helping to move the needle for those furthest from opportunity? How are schools navigating the current climate of rising divisiveness? 

For this first episode of our new season, we wanted to gain the perspective of someone who has had her finger on the pulse of school business and resource equity for a long time, both from a local and a statewide perspective – and that led us to none other than Nina Boyd, Deputy Superintendent for Operations, Government and Community Partnerships, for the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE). Nina is a school business official, administrator and statewide leader who has seen a lot transpire during her nearly 40 years in public education – and she is still on the frontlines impacting change. 

Nina shares insight and perspectives related to:

• How she sees us having gone both forward and backward with regard to advancing equity, including recent pushback about what is taught in schools;
• The importance of educational administrators and leaders continuing to be authentic in the spaces they serve and using their voices to correct misinformation;  
•  The evolving role of Chief Business Officers in inviting more diverse perspectives into the dialogue about school issues; and more. 

Mike Fine, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team’s (FCMAT), joins CASBO President Tina Douglas and President Elect Eric Dill for an informative discussion on fiscal responsibility in school business.

Fine joined FCMAT in 2015 as the agency’s chief administrative officer and became  chief executive officer in, 2017. Previously, he served as interim superintendent and deputy superintendent of business services and governmental relations at the Riverside Unified School District,  the assistant superintendent at Newport-Mesa USD and as a financial administrator in accounting and indirect budgets at Hughes Aircraft Company and General Dynamics Corporation. Holding degrees in accounting and public administration from Cal Poly Pomona and California Baptist University, he has a long history in governmental relations and working closely with policymakers in Sacramento on behalf of California’s K-12 students.

Established in 1991 through the passage of AB 1200, FCMAT's primary mission is to help California’s local TK-14 educational agencies identify, prevent and resolve financial, operational and data management challenges by providing management assistance and professional learning opportunities. For more information, visit https://www.fcmat.org/.

CASBO's Legislative Committee Chair and Governmental Relations team discuss CASBO's analysis and response to the Governor's May Revision in this episode. Listen to our budget priorities and advocacy efforts as we make sure our voices are heard when the Legislature and Administration work toward the final state budget act.

Guests:
Darrin Watters, Deputy Superintendent/Business Services, Hemet Unified, CASBO Legislative Committee Chair
Elizabeth Esquivel, Assistant Executive Director, Governmental Relations, CASBO
Mishaal Gil, Director, Policy & Advocacy, CASBO

Now that the Governor's 2023-24 budget proposal has been released and is in the hands of the legislature, CASBO members and advocates are hard at work analyzing bills and making our voices heard. Learn about our budget priorities, how we shape legislation, and how you can get involved with legislative advocacy on behalf of your school district.

Guests:
Elizabeth Esquivel, Assistant Executive Director, Governmental Relations, CASBO
Mishaal Gil, Director, Policy & Advocacy, CASBO
Gary Stine, Executive Director of Support Services, Orange County Department of Education, and Chair, CASBO Legislative Committee

What is on the horizon for next year's budget, and what options does the state have to address a drop in revenue? The Legislative Analyst for K-12 Education discusses the recent report on the fiscal outlook for schools and its recommendations to the Legislature for school funding. 

Guest
Edgar Cabral, Deputy Legislative Analyst, K-12 Education, California Legislative Analyst's Office:

With so much turnover in school business in the last two years, there have never been more opportunities to promote into a new position. Our guests give their advice on fine-tuning your resume, preparing for interviews, and taking advantage of CASBO training so you will be ready for that next job and stand out in the hiring process.

Guests:
Aaron Heinz, Deputy Superintendent of Administrative Services, Colusa County Office of Education
Matt Phillips, CPA, Director of Management Consulting Services, School Services of California
Tracy Petrillo, Ed.D., CAE – Chief Learning Officer, CASBO

Additional Resources:
Leadership & How to Get a Promotion - Presentation

When Governor Newsom released his proposed budget in January, many K-12 funding issues were pushed off, including the final Local Control Funding Formula cost-of-living adjustment, addressing the Gann Limit, and dealing with a staggering drop in average daily attendance. In this episode, we'll discuss the newly released May revise with members of CASBO's Governmental Relations team and compare the Governor's new proposals against the Legislature's priorities as we outline the road to state budget adoption next month.

Guests:
Elizabeth Esquivel, Senior Director, Policy & Governance, CASBO

Gary Stine, Executive Director of Support Services, Orange County Department of Education, and Chair, CASBO Legislative Committee

The Governor has released his initial budget proposal for 2022-23. We discuss his key proposals, the historic levels of funding, other pending legislation, and how this may impact school district budgets.

Guests:
Tatia Davenport, Chief Executive Officer, CASBO
Sara Bachez, Chief Governmental Relations Officer, CASBO

Additional Resources

CASBO NewsBreak 2022-04 –  Governor Newsom Releases the 2022-23 State Budget Proposal

Statewide declining enrollment became worse during the pandemic, and districts have not yet rebounded to their pre-COVID levels. Districts will return to funding based on actual attendance next school year if Gov. Newsom and the Legislature do not act to prevent a fiscal cliff.

In this episode, our guests will provide advice on planning for different funding scenarios and offer suggestions on how the state can solve this problem.

Guests:
Candi Clark, Ed.D., Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Alameda County Office of Education 

Jennifer Stahlheber, Chief Financial Officer, San Juan Unified School District 

Tony Wold, Ed.D., Former Associate Superintendent of Business Services, West Contra Costa Unified School District

If we've learned anything in the last two years, it's that the unexpected will happen. While our attention has been devoted to dealing with the crisis caused by the pandemic, other emergencies continue to affect our schools.

In this episode, our guests will talk about handling multiple emergencies, lessons learned from recent disasters, and how planning can help with your local education agency's financial recovery.

Guests:
Joe Anderson, Emergency Services Manager, California Department of Education

Judy Miller, Director, Risk Management & Environmental Safety, Perris Union HSD; and Chair, CASBO Risk Management Professional Council
 
Erin Tarkhanian, Loss Prevention Coordinator, Redwood Empire Schools' Insurance Group; and Chair, CASBO Sacramento Section Risk Management Professional Council

Jake Wolf, Staff Services Manager, Emergency Services Team, California Department of Education