November 6, 2012 
ISSUE 31
Greetings!
 
Operating Standards for Bond Oversight Committee  
Improving the BOC

Nov. 3, 2012 | By Kevin O'Neill |www.TheStarNews.com  

EXCERPT: ... I sat on the Bond Oversight Commission for Chula Vista Elementary and they are asking for more money this election cycle. I presently sit on the Sweetwater Union High School District Prop O BOC and there is a night and day difference in how they operate.

     A BOC's task is set forth in the California Constitution Article 13A and the Education Code Section 15264 and enumerated in Section 15278 and 15282 in particular.  Section 15280 states the support that the District is to provide to the INDEPENDENT BOC.

     In practice there is very little opportunity given to the BOC members to perform their mandate.

     ... It is not at all uncommon to find a facilities manager for a District who has previously worked as a consultant, or contractor in school construction.  Conversely retired school administrators find ready work promoting and advising the contractors and consultants they used to hire. There is a great opportunity for corruption in this system, especially when, as is the case with Sweetwater Union High School District there are neither campaign limits nor a restriction on corporate contributions. The very companies that have work or are seeking work with the District can donate to a board member without limit.  A check of campaign contribution disclosure forms can be extremely enlightening.  It is still possible for a member of the Sweetwater board to accept tens of thousands of dollars from contractors and consultants. And this is in spite of having two sitting members under indictment for pay to play practices along with the previous superintendent and a past board member.  Given a chance to remedy this situation at the October board meeting, three of the Trustees refused to make that reform. To be fair, there are also trade unions contributing to a board president in Northern California who then has made contributions to the local Board members' campaigns. ...

     ... One way to empower a BOC would be to insist that the School District adopt the Operating Standards that have been promulgated by the California League of Bond Oversight Committees.  These Standards were set up with active participation by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and go a long way in creating a BOC that has real oversight.
   To read the complete article visit: 

Contra Costa County CaLBOC Chapter Meeting December 1, 2012, 10am - 12 noon
John Muir Inn- Best Western Plus, Martinez
445 Muir Station Road, Martinez, CA 94553
TOPICS INCLUDE:
* The Contra Costa County Grand Jury Report * 
School Bond Oversight Committees - Raising the Bar  
Report by the 2011-2012 CCC Grand Jury * May 10, 2012 * Report 1208
We will go over the responses from the nine districts to the Grand Jury
CCC Grand Jury Report #1208 www.calboc.com/reports/CCCGJ1208.pdf
 
* Contra Costa County Treasurer & Tax Collector *
Overview of the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors (CACTTC)  "School Finance Handbook for TTC"

 

Draft Agenda:  calboc.org/docs/DRAFTAgenda12.1.12.pdf 
For more information and registerwww.ccccc2.eventbrite.com/
Campaign Finance - Slate Mailers
Slate Mailer Organizations are for-profit businesses that spend millions of dollars each election cycle encouraging people to vote for certain candidates and/or ballot measures. The Political Reform Act does not regulate the truth or accuracy of mail or other campaign-related advertisements or materials. 
Fair Political Practices Commission, Chapter 4, Communications:

 

To look up Campaign Finance on the Secretary of State Website: cal-access.sos.ca.gov -- To search use the top left yellow-orange Cal-Access search box.

Top Ten Slate Mailer Organizations from 2010 (2007-08):

www.fppc.ca.gov/index.php?id=253

In This Issue
Improving CBOC Standards
Slate Mailers
CaLBOC Board Meeting
Contra Costa County CaLBOC Meeting

CaLBOC Board Meeting 

November 9, 2012 

10 am -  3 pm

 

Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, One Capital Mall, Sacramento, CA

 

Topics: 2013 Legislation
 
Conference call service will be available. 

This meeting is open to all 

Contra Costa County CaLBOC Chapter Meeting:  Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012
10am to noon in Martinez
ccccc2.eventbrite.com 
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CaLBOC recruiting Board of Advisors
Mission Statement 

To promote school district accountability by improving the training and resources available to California's Proposition 39 School Bond Oversight Committees and educating the state legislature, local school boards and the public about the oversight and reporting powers these Citizens' Bond Oversight Committees (CBOCs) have, and to advocate on a state level, where appropriate, on issues of common concern to all CBOCs.

 
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California League of Bond Oversight Committees, 510-799-1141, [email protected]