State superintendent Jack O’Connell visits North County

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell
dropped by the North County last week in what school officials
jokingly called the politician’s goodbye tour—visits to every
county in the state prior to him terming out of office later this
year.
O’Connell—whose legacy includes legislation that reduced class
sizes in the lower grades, lessened the needed vote to pass school
construction bonds, and established the high school exit exam—met
with more than a dozen superintendents at an informal lunch at
Windsor High School prepared by high school culinary arts
students.
His work has left a big mark on school districts throughout
California, including Healdsburg and Windsor. While classroom sizes
in the lower grades are smaller and students must pass a high
school exam to earn a diploma, O’Connell said last Wednesday that
he is most proud of his work passing legislation reducing the
needed vote to pass school bonds.
Previously, Prop. 13 required that new bonds be passed with no
less than 66.6 percent of the vote. The new legislation required
schools only garner 55 percent of the vote—but stipulated districts
would need to document in advance what they would spend the money
on and form bond oversight committees to help ensure the money was
spent correctly.
In 2002, the Healdsburg Unified School District passed two
construction bonds using the new 55 percent rule: a $3.9 million
bond to build a new sports complex at Healdsburg High School and a
second $18.8 million bond to rebuild Fitch Mountain School and a
new kindergarten wing at Healdsburg Elementary School.
In 2008, the Windsor Unified School District passed its own
construction bond for $50 million to fund projects at each of the
community’s six schools, and to build a brand new elementary school
campus.
Last week O’Connell said he’d like to see similar legislation
passed to lower the required vote for school parcel tax elections
to 55 percent as well. “That will return more local control to
communities,” he said. “We need to allow school districts to set
their own levels of funding, to solve their own problems and set
their own priorities.”
While O’Connell did answer questions about his accomplishments,
most of his time was spent speaking with school leaders and hearing
reports on technical career education. He commended Sonoma County
school leaders for the successes of their respective districts.
“This whole county has done well and I want to thank you for
it,” he said at the luncheon. With a laugh, he added, “In
Sacramento, I take credit for it.”
He lauded efforts in career education and spoke to the state’s
public school system’s responsibility to students. “You may be
surprised to hear this from me, but not every student will go to
college, and that’s ok,” he said. “What’s not ok is to have
students not prepared for success.”
O’Connell is quickly approaching the Dec. 31 end of his second
term in office. His political career has spanned 28 years,
beginning with a stint on the Santa Barbara County School Board. He
later represented the Central Coast’s 35th District in the
California State Assembly for 12 years before being elected to the
California State Senate in 1994 representing the 18th District.
In 2002 he was elected State Superintendent of Public
Instruction, an office he won again in 2006 by winning every county
in the state. He’ll officially end his tenure as the lead
administrator of the state’s public school system in December when
he terms out of office.
O’Connell wouldn’t hint at his next career move. “Honest answer,
no plans,” he said. “I tell people to talk to me in January.”
Steve Herrington, the superintendent of the Windsor Unified
School District and county superintendent of schools elect, said
O’Connell’s visit was an opportunity for county school leaders to
say thanks. “Most of us wanted to say thank you to him,” he said.
“It was an expression of gratitude for the leadership he’s provided
in these tough economic times. He’s been our advocate for public
schools and he’s accomplished a lot of legislation for
schools.”
Jeff Harding, superintendent of the Healdsburg Unified School
District, appreciated O’Connell’s kind words to districts
countywide. “He has a statewide perspective, and for him to come to
Sonoma County and applaud the improvements we’ve made over his
tenure is a real acknowledgement,” he said. “He recognizes it’s a
difficult time for education, and at the same time our students are
doing better than ever before.”