Re “A History Lesson: Board Members and Healthcare Overpayments”
“School Board member benefits” is almost a misnomer. I enjoy telling people how much we are paid because most are surprised at how little it is. I’d be shocked if any Board member sought his or her position due in any part to the benefits.
George Laase is correct — I did ask, multiple times, for accountability with respect to benefits. As of now, the Board member benefits are generally reported publicly each quarter.
With respect to any overpayment of benefits, it is important to note that no sitting Board member was ever overpaid any amount. This allegation relates to a prior Board, not to the current sitting Board or any sitting board member.
Board members receive a $240 stipend per month, before taxes. There is no requirement that this stipend by used for any specific purpose. I use mine to pay for many of the various school-related events and fundraisers I regularly attend, as well as outright donations to various CCUSD entities.
Next year, I will be donating my twelve monthly stipends to the Ed Foundation. I don’t know what the other members do with their stipend, but I assume they do similarly. Indeed, Prof. Patricia Siever has agreed to donate her twelve monthly stipends to the Ed Foundation as well.
Board members are eligible for the same health and welfare benefits afforded to full time employees. However, in an effort to save the District money, last year I redrafted, and the Board approved, a new bylaw that limits Board members from accessing these benefits if they have similar benefits available to them through other sources. As a result of this new bylaw, four of the five sitting Board members do not receive health benefits from the District, resulting in a five-figure savings to the District.
When I started as a Board member in 2007, each Board member had a $3,000 annual discretionary fund for travel, conferences, etc. Over the past four years, the Board has eliminated that discretionary travel fund in its entirety.
For a myriad of reasons, people want to be on the Board of Education. I chose to run, and have chosen to run for re-election, because I want to make our schools better. Simple is that.
While there are numerous reasons for someone to run, the Board member benefits are certainly not one of them.
Mr. Zeidman,President of the School Board, is up for re-election on Nov. 8. He is hosting a fundraiser Saturday evening, 6:30 to 8:30, at the Gardena Bowl, 15707 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena. See zeidman4ccusd.com
Personal Plea on a Separate Matter
Friends,
While there are no real polls and no way of actually knowing, someone must think that we are doing well, as someone has been taking Re-elect Zeidman signs off the properties of many supporters.
I learned yesterday that five were taken off of Farragut, five off the lower portion of the Crest, a couple on Lindblade and Braddock, and one on Elenda. I have no idea how many more were taken.
If you had a sign and it has been taken and I haven’t provided a replacement, please let me know. If you would like a sign, please let me know that as well.
Thanks so very much for your support.
