Dear County and District Superintendents, County and District Chief Business Officials, and Charter School Administrators:
CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM
I am pleased to inform you that on March 9, 2006, the State Board of Education (SBE) approved the training criteria and provider application process for the state Chief Business Officer (CBO) Training program. The criteria were developed by California Department of Education staff, in consultation with the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) plus other subject area experts, including representatives from over 50 school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools. Senate Bill 352, 2005 by Senator Jack Scott, provides incentive funding to school districts and county offices of education for professional development of business officers.
The bill intends for 350 candidates to be trained annually with a $3,000 state contribution per candidate. Training priority is given to applicant districts that are under state administration and those whose financial statements have been certified as qualified or negative within the past five years. SB 352 specifies that the training program offered “shall be conducted for no fewer than 200 hours.” The criteria (or curriculum) present a comprehensive program of instruction for business officers. You are encouraged to view the training program that is accessible on our Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ai/cb/cboapprequest.asp.
Our next step in implementing this legislation is to invite interested organizations and entities to apply to be state-qualified training providers. Prospective providers should be able to demonstrate a successful track record in delivering or ability to deliver training for business officers, and their instructors must be experts in their respective subject areas, with appropriate training experience. An online application form is now available for interested providers.
It is important to note that each provider that is approved as a state-qualified trainer must offer a complete course of instruction consistent with the SBE-approved curriculum, and each approved local educational agency (LEA) training candidate must take a complete course of instruction. Once the SBE approves providers, school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools may begin applying, on behalf of their nominated candidates, for the CBO training. The earliest the first training providers can be approved is at the SBE’s next meeting in May. Instructions will be available for school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to apply for the training, with approval by the SBE, beginning in July 2006.
We are excited about this important program and pleased to be able to play a role in assuring quality training for CBOs in California. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Kathy Mathews, Assistant Fiscal Consultant, School Fiscal Services Division, at (916) 322-1647 or by e-mail at kmathews@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
JACK O’CONNELL
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814