BURLINGAME - California Teachers Association President Wayne Johnson praised the growing number of school board members who are coming out in support of CTA's AB 2160 legislation to give parents and teachers a greater voice in education decisions.
"We know parents, voters and school board members support this bill, and we're glad they are speaking out," Johnson said. "We also know that giving teachers and parents more say in issues that directly affect students will strengthen our public schools.
At a San Francisco news conference today, board members from San Francisco Unified School District, the Tamalpais Union High School District in Marin County, the San Leandro Unified School District, the Alameda Unified School District and the Berkeley Unified School District announced their support of AB 2160. They also took issue with the California School Boards Association and its divisive and relentless attacks on the bill.
"Opponents of this bill are rushing to judgment about this positive legislation that will lead to more collaboration at our schools," said Eric Mar, a San Francisco school board member. "I support what this bill is trying to accomplish, and so do many board members across the state."
"The new amendments to this bill have made it even more effective," said Rick Richards, a San Leandro Unified school board member. "It puts the public back into public schools."
Earlier this week, the school board for the 41,000-student Corona-Norco Unified School District - the largest school district in Riverside County - became the first school board in the state to approve a resolution strongly supporting AB 2160.
The 330,000-member CTA continues to fight for the bill, which next faces a May 15 hearing before the Assembly Appropriations Committee. For more information about the bill visit www.ab2160.org.