CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 1955 was discussed during the joint meeting of Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District on Tuesday, June 25th in Loyalton. The proposed new legislation would ban parental notification policies that have been lawfully adopted by school boards across California. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond joined the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus to prohibit parental notification policies that require school administrators to inform parents if their children ask to be referred to a name or pronouns that differ from their gender at birth or to access sex-segregated school programs or bathrooms for the opposite gender.
Board President Kelly Champion gave out a letter to the Board that has been signed by many other school districts in opposition to the Bill. She said there were questions on whether the Bill is constitutional, stating parents are feeling like they need to have support from the schools to feel comfortable to bring their children. Champion is an advocate for parent rights and wanted to help advocate in the legislature to protect families and our rights. She wanted to maintain local control when it comes to our communities. District Superintendent Sean Snider and several Board members received many emails from parents and the community in support of opposing the Bill. Board member Richard Jaquez made the motion to send the letter in opposition. Newly appointed Board member Rhynie Hollitz felt it important to represent the community. The motion passed unanimously with Board member Patty Hall absent. The letter shown below, will be signed and join the many other districts in opposition to AB 1955.
Dear California School Boards Association,
As members of the California School Boards Association (CSBA), we are writing to express our strong opposition to AB 1955 and encourage the CSBA to actively oppose this measure. This bill threatens parental rights, erodes the trust between parents and schools, and undermines local control. If passed, AB 1955 will harm all education stakeholders - students, parents, schools and teachers.
Notifying and involving parents when a school takes an active role in socially transitioning a child is critical for the well-being of children and for maintaining trust between schools and parents. AB 1955 would do the opposite by prohibiting schools from enacting or enforcing policies to bring parents into the process of supporting their own children and would strengthen policies meant to keep secrets from parents.
We CSBA members firmly believe that parents have the right to know about these critical issues affecting their children and that they have a fundamental right to direct the care and upbringing of their children. Tranparency and communication between schools and parents are essential for fostering trust and collaboration. Eroding this trust between schools and parents will have a negative impact on the success and well-being of students and further exacerbate enrollment issues schools are facing.
Futhermore, local control is crucial when serving our communities. AB 1955 would undermine local control by imposing burdensome restrictions on schools’ ability to communicate with parents. Each school district understands the unique needs and values of its community, and local jurisdictions should be allowed to make these kinds of decisions.
We urge the California School Boards Association to take a firm stance against AB 1955 and oppose this legislation on behalf of our members and the families we serve.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
The following CSBA Members:
Sierra County Office of Education and
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District
Ed’s Note: As of July 2nd, AB 1955 was passed by the California Legislature. The bill, supported by State Superintendent Thurmond has now gone to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature to become law.
DOWNIEVILLE SCHOOL had a leak and this time it wasn’t the roof. Four inches of water was found on Monday, June 24th. The incident was reported by County Superintendent James Berardi during the joint meeting of Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra Plumas Joint Unified District Board at its meeting held June 25th in Loyalton. He felt something was going on with the water pressure in Downieville, as about nine different businesses and homes have been affected in the last couple weeks. Berardi stated a pressure release valve broke at the school because pressure was too high water, causing a couple water filling stations to blow up, and two hot water heaters blew their valves. He said maintenance stripped all the carpet, as they are replacing it anyway, and sucked up the water. They have fans going to try and dry it out. Berardi made phone calls to the water treatment district to say this should be their problem and called the insurance agency. The insurance will be coming out to look at it. He didn’t know how long the water was sitting there.
Board President Kelly Champion gave out a letter to the Board that has been signed by many other school districts in opposition to the Bill. She said there were questions on whether the Bill is constitutional, stating parents are feeling like they need to have support from the schools to feel comfortable to bring their children. Champion is an advocate for parent rights and wanted to help advocate in the legislature to protect families and our rights. She wanted to maintain local control when it comes to our communities. District Superintendent Sean Snider and several Board members received many emails from parents and the community in support of opposing the Bill. Board member Richard Jaquez made the motion to send the letter in opposition. Newly appointed Board member Rhynie Hollitz felt it important to represent the community. The motion passed unanimously with Board member Patty Hall absent. The letter shown below, will be signed and join the many other districts in opposition to AB 1955.
Dear California School Boards Association,
As members of the California School Boards Association (CSBA), we are writing to express our strong opposition to AB 1955 and encourage the CSBA to actively oppose this measure. This bill threatens parental rights, erodes the trust between parents and schools, and undermines local control. If passed, AB 1955 will harm all education stakeholders - students, parents, schools and teachers.
Notifying and involving parents when a school takes an active role in socially transitioning a child is critical for the well-being of children and for maintaining trust between schools and parents. AB 1955 would do the opposite by prohibiting schools from enacting or enforcing policies to bring parents into the process of supporting their own children and would strengthen policies meant to keep secrets from parents.
We CSBA members firmly believe that parents have the right to know about these critical issues affecting their children and that they have a fundamental right to direct the care and upbringing of their children. Tranparency and communication between schools and parents are essential for fostering trust and collaboration. Eroding this trust between schools and parents will have a negative impact on the success and well-being of students and further exacerbate enrollment issues schools are facing.
Futhermore, local control is crucial when serving our communities. AB 1955 would undermine local control by imposing burdensome restrictions on schools’ ability to communicate with parents. Each school district understands the unique needs and values of its community, and local jurisdictions should be allowed to make these kinds of decisions.
We urge the California School Boards Association to take a firm stance against AB 1955 and oppose this legislation on behalf of our members and the families we serve.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
The following CSBA Members:
Sierra County Office of Education and
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District
Ed’s Note: As of July 2nd, AB 1955 was passed by the California Legislature. The bill, supported by State Superintendent Thurmond has now gone to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature to become law.
DOWNIEVILLE SCHOOL had a leak and this time it wasn’t the roof. Four inches of water was found on Monday, June 24th. The incident was reported by County Superintendent James Berardi during the joint meeting of Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra Plumas Joint Unified District Board at its meeting held June 25th in Loyalton. He felt something was going on with the water pressure in Downieville, as about nine different businesses and homes have been affected in the last couple weeks. Berardi stated a pressure release valve broke at the school because pressure was too high water, causing a couple water filling stations to blow up, and two hot water heaters blew their valves. He said maintenance stripped all the carpet, as they are replacing it anyway, and sucked up the water. They have fans going to try and dry it out. Berardi made phone calls to the water treatment district to say this should be their problem and called the insurance agency. The insurance will be coming out to look at it. He didn’t know how long the water was sitting there.