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CASH Alert: SAB Update

Yesterday, January 27, 2021, the State Allocation Board (SAB) held a meeting for routine business including the adoption of the annual adjustment to the School Facility Program Grants, adoption of amendments to the Charter School Facilities Program, and to receive a report on Local Audits completed in 2020.

The Board presented a resolution to outgoing member Daniel Kim and welcomed Acting Director of DGS Jennifer Osborne. Senator Scott Wilk also indicated that he would be leaving the Board due to his recent election as Senate Minority Leader.

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School Reopening Update

On January 14th, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the COVID-19 School Guidance Checklist, which supersedes the guidance it issued on August 3, 2020. This document is intended to reconcile guidance for schools from CDPH and the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CalOSHA). That said, there remain differences between the new guidance and the Governor’s proposed $2 billion In-Person Instruction Grant Program. The differences will be significant for some local education agencies (LEAs). For example, the guidance advises consultation with bargaining groups, whereas the proposed grant program requires negotiation with them.

The Checklist is part of the Administration’s new Safe Schools for All Hub, which is meant to centralize COVID-related state guidance for schools. At present, the site’s content is focused on the merits of the Governor’s In-Person Instruction Grant Program.

Last Thursday, the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Budget held a joint hearing on the Governor’s proposal. During the hearing, the program was criticized by Senators, education labor and management organizations, and school district representatives. Common concerns expressed were the fact that grant amounts would not be sufficient to pay for COVID-19 testing of students or other program requirements, insufficient statewide capacity to process tests in a timely manner, insufficient time for LEAs to complete application requirements, and the plan’s omission of vaccinations for teachers and school staff—which labor and management both stated was key to a return to in-person instruction. Hearing participants concluded that the proposed program would not result in schools reopening sooner, and encouraged the Administration to return with an amended proposal.

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CASH and the CASH Maintenance Network quoted in EdSource “California Public Schools Struggle to Pay for Ventilation Upgrades, Key to Safely Reopen Schools”

This EdSource article by Betty Marquez Rosales and Carylon Jones focuses on the challenges schools face in paying for HVAC assessments and upgrades, which is a key component of the Governor’s priority to reopen schools as soon as possible. Those quoted in the article include CASH Board Member Julie Boesch; Chair of the CASH Maintenance Network (CMN) Joe Dixon; and CASH advocate Ian Padilla. Jeff Vincent from the Center for Cities and Schools is also quoted.

CASH is working to expedite the development of the AB 841 grant program, and the Governor’s $2 billion 2020-2021 State Budget K-12 school reopening plan allows the funding to be used to improve school ventilation and indoor/outdoor learning space safety. CASH and the CMN are advocating for these and other sources of funding to ensure schools have the resources they need to ensure safe and healthy learning environments.

–Ian Padilla

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CASH 42nd Annual Conference on School Facilities

Rescheduled to June 28-30, 2021

 

Dear CASH Annual Conference Participants:

On behalf of the CASH Leadership, this letter is to inform you that the in-person CASH 42nd Annual Conference on School Facilities scheduled for Monday, March 1 through Wednesday March 3, 2021 in Palm Springs has been rescheduled to be in-person on Monday, June 28 through Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The Golf Tournament is rescheduled to Sunday, June 27.

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CASH Alert: Governor Newsom Releases 2021-22 Proposed State Budget

This morning, January 8, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom presented his proposed 2021-22 State Budget. The $227 billion spending plan includes $164.5 billion in the state General Fund and $85.8 billion in Proposition 98. It includes a 3.84% COLA for K-12 schools and repays two-thirds of last year’s deferrals. The Governor notes that the state anticipates an additional $6.7 billion in federal support for schools.

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