Board of Education
The Shasta County Board of Education provides leadership and citizen input for county educational programs and services operated by the Shasta County Office of Education, including services provided to school districts and the community. The County Board works with the County Superintendent of Schools to establish the direction and priorities for the County Office through its budgetary responsibilities and provides community leadership on behalf of the County Office and public education. Contact the Board
Kathy Barry
President
Trustee Area: 2
Term: December 2020-2024
Robert Brown
Vice-President
Trustee Area: 1
Term: December 2022-2026
Authur Gorman
Trustee Area: 2
Term: December 2022-2026
Laura Manuel
Trustee Area: 1
Term: December 2022-2026
Denny Mills
Trustee Area: 2
Term: December 2020-2024
Cindy Vogt
Trustee Area: 2
Term: June 2023 - December 2024
Nick Webb
Trustee Area: 1
Term: December 2022-2024
- County Board Jurisdiction
- County Committee on School District Organization
- Expulsion Appeals
- Goals
- Governance Standards for County Boards
- Interdistrict Attendance Appeals
- Meetings
- SCOE Policies
- Student Board Members
- Trustee Areas
County Board Jurisdiction
Within Our Jurisdiction
In accordance with the California Education Code and other regulations and laws, the Shasta County Board of Education serves as the governing board for the schools and programs operated by the Shasta County Office of Education. The Board is committed to providing the leadership necessary to meet the educational needs of a diverse student population to increase student success.
The Board also:
- Approves policies, regulations and curriculum for the schools and educational programs operated by the County Office.
- Adopts policies and regulations governing the County Office.
- Approves the annual budget of the County Office.
- Sets the County Superintendent's salary.
- Receives the annual audit.
- Maintains an awareness of financial conditions and operations of school districts in the county.
- Approves the purchase or lease of property for County Office programs.
- Serves as the members of the Shasta County Committee on School District Organization. This is the legal body charged with overseeing the reorganization of school district and district boundaries through territory transfers or unifications as well as the establishment or rearrangement of governing board trustee areas as required.
- Serves as an appeal board for the adjudication of expulsion, interdistrict attendance, and charter school petition appeals.
- Informs local communities about the programs and achievements of the County Office.
Beyond Our Jurisdiction
Although the Shasta County Board of Education provides for oversight in areas such as those listed previously, the Board does not govern school districts in Shasta County. Each district has its own school board and superintendent who employ their staff and administer the education of students in their district. Complaints or concerns related to a school, whether it be in regards to staff, educational programs, or extra-curricular activities are under the direct authority of the superintendent of the school district. Concerns with the superintendent are directed to the school board of the particular district. In addition, the Shasta County Board of Education does not participate in negotiations with employees.
County Committee on School District Organization
The members of the Shasta County Board of Education also serve as the Shasta County Committee on School District Organization. This is the legal body charged with overseeing the reorganization of school districts and district boundaries through territory transfers or unifications as well as the establishment or rearrangement of governing board trustee areas as required.
- Frequently Asked Questions Regarding School District Organization
- Types of Reorganization
- Sample Petition - MS Word document
- California Department of Education District Organization Handbook
- School District Organization Training PowerPoint
- Contact the Superintendent's Office at Shasta COE for a copy of the County Committee Bylaws
Expulsion Appeals
The Shasta County Board of Education has limited authority under law to review the procedures followed by the school district prior to expelling a pupil to determine whether the Education Code was complied with, whether "due process" was afforded, and whether there is evidence to support the local governing board's finding and decision supporting the expulsion.
The Shasta County Board of Education Policy 5144.3 Students-Expulsion Appeal to County Board of Education and the Expulsion Appeal Handbook was prepared to assist expelled pupils and their parents/guardians in understanding the appeal process and the rights of the pupil. The handbook constitutes the official procedures adopted by the Shasta County Board of Education for conducting expulsion appeal hearings. The documents can be obtained by contacting the Shasta County Superintendent of Schools office at 530.225.0227.
Goals
The Shasta County Board of Education works in conjunction with the Shasta County Office of Education
to develop and fulfill its goals.
Goals for 2023/24
Through an annual Appreciative Interview process, Board Members and staff are interviewed to determine what they value and appreciate about the program and department they work within as well as for our organization as a whole. We also ask about hopes and dreams for the future of the Shasta County Office of Education and each staff member. Goal areas are created by departments in the three main priority areas listed below based on input from staff:
As we began this school year, each department identified actions they would pursue related to these goal areas. As we move throughout the school year, each department will share information with the Shasta County Board of Education on their progress in each of the goal areas.
Governance Standards for County Boards
Public oversight of local government is the foundation of American democracy. Nowhere is this more evident than in our public schools, where boards of education are entrusted by their diverse communities to uphold the constitution, protect the public interest in schools and ensure that a high quality education is provided to each student. To maximize the public’s confidence in local government, boards must govern responsibly and effectively.
There are certain fundamental principles involved in governing responsibly and effectively. These principles – or Professional Governance Standards – include three components vital to effective governance: 1) the attributes of an effective individual board member, 2) the attributes of an effective governing board, and 3) the specific jobs the board performs in its governance role.
The intent of these standards is to enhance the public’s understanding about the critical responsibilities of county office and school boards and to support them in their efforts to govern effectively.
The Individual Board Member
In California’s public education system, a board member is a person elected or appointed to serve on a board of education. Individual board members bring unique skills, values and beliefs to their board. In order to govern effectively, individual board members must work with each other and the superintendent to ensure that a high quality education is provided to each student.
To be effective, an individual Board Member:
- Keeps learning and achievement for all students as the primary focus.
- Values, supports, and advocates for public education.
- Recognizes and respects differences of perspective and style on the board and among staff, students, parents, and the community.
- Acts with dignity, and understands the implications of demeanor and behavior.
- Keeps confidential matters confidential.
- Participates in professional development and commits the time and energy necessary to be an informed and effective leader.
- Understands the distinctions between board, superintendent, and staff roles, and refrains from performing management functions that are the responsibility of the superintendent and staff.
- Understands that authority rests with the board as a whole and not with individual board members.
The Board
County offices of education are governed by a superintendent and board, not by individual board members. While understanding their separate governance roles, the board and superintendent work together as a team. This team assumes collective responsibility for building unity and creating a positive organizational culture in order to govern effectively.
To operate effectively, the Board must have a unity of purpose and:
Keep focused on student learning and achievement, as well as the role of the County
Office of Education in providing services to school districts and the community.
- Work collaboratively with the county superintendent.
- Communicate a common vision.
- Operate openly, with trust, and integrity.
- Govern in a dignified and professional manner, treating everyone with civility and respect.
- Govern within board-adopted policies and procedures.
- Take collective responsibility for the board’s performance.
- Periodically evaluate its own effectiveness.
- Ensure opportunities for the diverse range of views in the community to inform board deliberations.
The County Board’s Jobs
The primary responsibilities of the county board are to work with the superintendent to establish the direction and priorities for the county office of education through its budgetary responsibilities, and to provide leadership to support the success of public education. To fulfill these responsibilities, there are a number of specific jobs that effective boards must carry out.
Effective County Boards:
Maintain a cooperative and supportive working relationship with local school districts, their school boards, and the community.
- Collaborate with the superintendent so that the shared vision, goals, and policies of the county office of education can be implemented.
- Adopt, evaluate, and update policies consistent with law and the county board’s vision and goals.
- Maintain accountability for student learning in schools and programs operated by the county office of education.
- Adopt the annual budget and review interim reports of the county superintendent of schools.
- Approve the salary of the county superintendent.
- Review the real property audit and acquire or dispose of real property as necessary for county office.
- Adopt policies to ensure that a safe and appropriate educational environment is provided for all its students.
- Conduct appeals on student expulsions and interdistrict transfers.
- Conduct public hearings when appropriate.
- Fulfill statutory responsibilities in connection with charter schools.
- Provide community leadership on educational issues and advocate on behalf of students and public education at the local, state, and federal levels.
Interdistrict Attendance Appeals
The Shasta County Board of Education has legal authority to review the procedures and reasoning followed by a school district after the school district has rejected or failed to rule on an interdistrict attendance request. The Shasta County Board of Education will determine whether to grant or deny an interdistrict attendance appeal after reviewing the relevant facts from the parent/guardian, student, and local school district(s) involved.
The Shasta County Board of Education Policy 5117.1 Students-Interdistrict Attendance Appeal and the Interdistrict Attendance Appeal Handbook provides direction and information to parents/guardians and students who wish to appeal a school district's decision to not grant an interdistrict attendance agreement. They are also a tool for school districts to assist them in preparing for an appeal hearing. The handbook constitutes the official procedures adopted by the Shasta County Board of Education for conducting interdistrict appeal hearings. The documents can be obtained by contacting the Shasta County Superintendent of Schools office at 530.225.0227.
Meetings
Board Meetings
Regular Board Meetings
The Shasta County Board of Education Regular meetings are scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month (except June and December) at 1:30 p.m. at the Shasta County Office of Education Board Room or other posted location. The June meeting will be held on the fourth Wednesday to allow time for budget preparation and the December meeting will be held on the third Wednesday to meet Education Code requirements. For any month in which a holiday conflicts with the second Wednesday of the month, the meeting will be held on the first, third, or fourth Wednesday as posted. The Board schedules their Regular meetings each December for the following year at their Annual Organizational Meeting held in conjunction with the Regular Board meeting, the agendas are posted no less than 72 hours prior to the meeting on the Shasta County Office of Education website. Your attendance at the following Regular Board meetings is welcomed:
January 11, 2023
February 8, 2023
March 8, 2023
April 19, 2023
May 10, 2023
June 28, 2023
July 12, 2023
August 9, 2023
September 13, 2023
October 11, 2023
November 8, 2023
December 13, 2023 (Starts at 12:30 p.m. with a Budget Study Session)
Special Board Meetings
The Shasta County Board of Education schedules Special Board meetings as needed to address items that require attention between Regular Board meetings. When a Special Board meeting is called, the agenda is posted no less than 24 hours prior to the meeting on the Shasta County Office of Education website.
The Shasta County Board of Education typically schedules Board Planning Sessions which are considered to be Special Meetings and a Special Meeting to hold Public Hearings for the Local Control Accountability Plan and Proposed Budget for the following year at their Annual Organizational Meeting held in conjunction with the December Regular Board meeting. Your attendance at the following Special Board meetings is welcomed:
March 1, 2023 - Board Planning Session (8:00 am/Professional Development Center)
June 21, 2023 - Budget Study Session/Special Board Meeting (Time TBD/Location Shasta County Office of Education)
September 27, 2023 - Board Planning Session (Time/Location TBD)
Emergency Board Meetings
An emergency meeting can only be called when there is a situation involving matters that require prompt action due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities and services. While the 24 hour notice for posting the agenda is waived, it will be posted on the Shasta County Office of Education website as soon as available.
Board Meeting Procedures
Board Meeting Materials
All Board actions authorized or required by state law must take place in open session to give the public an opportunity to be heard. Board Members are to receive agendas and related materials in advance of each meeting, allowing time for preparation. Agendas for Regular Board meetings must be posted at the Shasta County Office of Education and on the website seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting. Special Board meeting agendas are to be posted twenty-four (24) hours in advance. Agendas and other Board materials are available to the public on our website, at the meeting, or in the Superintendent's Office upon posting of the agenda.
The agenda is categorized by Regular and Consent items. The Regular Agenda includes significant financial, policy, and administrative actions. Items on the Regular Agenda are discussed during the meeting. The Consent Agenda includes routine financial and administrative actions. Consent Agenda items are not discussed at the meeting unless an item is pulled by request at the meeting for discussion. Items on the Consent Agenda are approved by a single majority vote.
How to Address the Board
Government Code provides that every agenda for Regular and Special meetings must provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the Board. The Board has designated an item on the agenda where the public may address the Board regarding items that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board at the beginning of the meeting under "Speaking to the Board." In addition to the standing agenda item soliciting public input, the public is encouraged to make relevant remarks during the Board's consideration of an item on Regular and Special meeting agendas.
Those wishing to address the Board are asked to complete a "Speaker Card" prior to the opening of the meeting. Individual speakers are allowed three (3) minutes to address the Board on each agenda or nonagenda item. The total time allowed for each topic is 20 minutes. The Board can increase or decrease the time allowed for public input.
No action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda unless it is a continued matter or the Board finds by a two-thirds vote that the need to take action arose and came to its attention subsequent to the posting of the meeting agenda. The Board may direct staff to place matters on future agendas.
Procedures for Addressing the Board or Placing an Item on the Agenda are available at each meeting providing direction for those wishing to address the Board.
Committee Meetings
The Shasta County Board of Education has the authority to establish committees and designate Board Members to serve as representatives on these committees. The Board determines the duties of the committee at the time of its appointment. Unless specifically authorized by the Board to act on its behalf, Board committees act in an advisory capacity. When its duties have been completed, the committee will be dissolved.
Board advisory committee meetings composed solely of less than a quorum of the members of the Board are not subject to the open meeting laws (The Brown Act) unless they are a standing committee that has a continuing subject matter jurisdiction or a meeting schedule established by the Board.
In addition, the Board recognizes that effective performance of its community leadership responsibilities may require its participation on Shasta County Office of Education or community committees on matters of concern to the County Office and its students. As needed, the Board may appoint any of its members to serve as its representative on a County Office committee or on a committee of another public agency or organization of which the Board or County Office is a member or to which the Board is invited to participate.
SCOE Policies
Policies
Board Policies and Administrative Regulations govern the Shasta County Office of Education. Board Bylaws govern the Shasta County Board of Education. These policies are adopted by the Shasta County Board of Education.
Superintendent Policies govern personnel and employment. These policies are approved by the employer, the Shasta County Superintendent of Schools.
Policies, regulations and bylaws are reviewed and modified in alignment with recommendations from the California School Board Association.
Feel free to contact the Office of the Superintendent for specific policy information at 530.225.0317.
Student Board Members
The Shasta County Board of Education as representatives of the community, who play a vital role in the lives of children and value the voice of youth, took action in Spring 2005 to provide high school student representatives the opportunity to serve as Student Board Members alongside them on the Shasta County Board of Education. Board Bylaw 9150 - Student Board Members was developed to outline the Student Board Member position and the selection process. Local junior and senior high school students are encouraged to apply to serve on the Board in the spring of each school year. Applications are posted on this web page in late February through mid-March.
Student Board Members, selected through an application and interview process, serve a one-year term on the Shasta County Board of Education. They provide important insight and input into the discussion of the Board and their ideas, thoughts, and concerns are listened to and reflected in decisions of the Board.
This unique opportunity for students to serve as Student Board Members provides them with an up-close view of the governance process. They gain a perspective of the educational systems, rules, regulations, and practices of the Shasta County Board of Education, Shasta County Office of Education, local school districts, and the California Department of Education.
Today's students are tomorrow's leaders and the Shasta County Board of Education is proud to serve together with our Student Board Members to directly influence the lives of children in Shasta County.
Junior and senior high school students interested in applying to serve as a Student Board Member are encouraged to call the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools at 530.225.0227.
Student Board Members
2023/2024
Robin Comas
University Preparatory School
Jackson Richards
Shasta High School
Trustee Areas
The Shasta County Board of Education consists of seven trustees. Trustee areas are determined by the population in districts with elementary schools. Board Members must reside in their respective trustee area.
Area 2
Bella Vista Elementary
Black Butte Union Elementary
Cascade Union Elementary
Castle Rock Union Elementary
Columbia Elementary
Cottonwood Union Elementary
Fall River Joint Unified
French Gulch-Whiskeytown Elementary
Gateway Unified
Happy Valley Union Elementary
Igo-Ono-Platina Union Elementary
Junction Elementary
Millville Elementary
Mountain Union Elementary
North Cow Creek Elementary
Oak Run Elementary
Pacheco Union Elementary
Whitmore Elementary