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Kern County board signals intent to join new county-boards association, staff told to file enrollment
Summary
After a staff briefing, the Kern County Board of Education indicated it will join the newly formed Association of California County Boards of Education (ACCBE), directing staff to submit membership paperwork and noting an annual dues estimate of about $5,000 for a district of the county's size.
The Kern County Board of Education signaled agreement to join the Association of California County Boards of Education and directed staff to submit membership paperwork. Board members discussed the group's structure and likely annual dues before agreeing to proceed.
The ACCBE was created after the California School Boards Association reorganized county boards into CSBA's Area 14, removing the separate county-board component. Dr. Mindenborough, who briefed the board, said ACCBE is intended to restore direct county-board representation and to provide committee work, trainings and advocacy tailored to county boards. "If it's a pleasure of the board to join them, we can definitely, take care of that as well for you," he said.
Board members who spoke said ACCBE offers county-focused trainings and legislative advocacy separate from CSBA's district-oriented offerings. Dr. Mindenborough said roughly 70% of county boards have already joined; he estimated membership dues for a county of Kern's size would be about $5,000 annually. The group meets with the California County Superintendents and offers workshops, model policy templates and collaboration with community colleges and universities on teacher pipelines, he said.
President Mary Little told staff to proceed: "I think we can go ahead and join, and you can submit the paperwork, Dr. Mindenborough." Board members asked whether joining ACCBE would end CSBA membership; staff clarified that county boards would remain associated with CSBA for broader conferences and resources.
The board did not take a formal vote at the meeting; instead trustees agreed to have staff complete enrollment and return any required paperwork. Per the discussion, membership delegates are selected annually and all board members can attend ACCBE meetings and workshops.
Background: Trustees said the new organization aims to give county boards autonomy to advocate on public policy and to revive the county-board component that existed under CSBA. Several trustees described historic tensions between county-board delegates and CSBA and said ACCBE has a more focused county-board agenda.
