On Monday, March 23, I spoke to the SF School Board about following state law when it comes to the school start date campaigns and debates;
12-27-20. Expenditure of public funds to influence election outcome prohibited. The state, an agency of the state, and the governing body of a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state may not expend or permit the expenditure of public funds for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any candidate, or for the petitioning of a ballot question on the ballot or the adoption or defeat of any ballot question. This section may not be construed to limit the freedom of speech of any officer or employee of the state or such political subdivisions in his or her personal capacity. This section does not prohibit the state, its agencies, or the governing body of any political subdivision of the state from presenting factual information solely for the purpose of educating the voters on a ballot question.
Source: SL 2007, ch 80, § 20.
After reading the law to the school board, member, Kate Parker told me that staff follows an internal policy on their activities, I asked her if that policy follows state law and she said they follow policy.
After the meeting, the District’s attorney and VP Super, Sue Simons approached me in the IPC parking lot. She told me that Kate Parker had misspoken and that the policy does follow state law. Sue also advised me to present evidence, if I had it, of teachers campaigning on school time. I told her I would look into it.
Two days later I received a priority mail letter from Sue asking me for that evidence. I emailed her and told her I was ‘watching’ the process and would probably NOT share any of the evidence that I would ascertain, nor would I sue the school district. She did not respond.
I found out yesterday that Sue sent out a memo to District staff stating the above law and that employees should follow it and should discontinue any campaigning activity on school time and property.
I want to applaud the District for listening to constituents and reinforcing to employees that they must follow state law.