Comments re Agenda Item 3.8 2-24-03 CA School Board Association Services (CSBA)
In reviewing this service agreement, you remember that I objected to this contract because the board policies and the documents and sources used to devise these policies, while being paid for by the taxpayers of the community, were kept secret from the community on a password protected server controlled by CSBA.
The policies and procedures for a school district are to reflect the community's input and control of its district within the law. To work with CSBA and develop policies based on secret recommendations and templates while leaving the community out is not acceptable. The community has plainly and loudly spoken that it will not accept decisions made by the superintendent and her staff in secret.
In speaking with CSBA, they state a public password can be made available so that the public can see the approved policies, draft policies that are considered ready to submit to the board and necessary background information. It would not access policies in the process of being drafted.
Unless the district makes this public password available, then it appears that this contract is designed to frustrate the public's access to documents that are clearly covered by the Public Records Act. Please modify this contract to produce this transparency of process or cancel it.
Charles Brink