CSUF Professor Elected
Vice President of the California County Boards of Education
County Boards reviews proposed bills
and influences policies and legislation affecting public schools.
January 10. 2006 :: No. 129
John W. Bedell, chairman of the Academic Senate and professor
of sociology at Cal State Fullerton, has been elected vice
president of the California County Boards of Education (CCBE).
The CCBE is the "voice" for
county boards of education at the state and federal level,
influencing policies and legislation affecting public schools.
Last year, Bedell served as secretary/treasurer of the
group.
"There are
57 county boards of education in the state of California,
and CCBE provides oversight for them," Bedell said. "For
instance, CCBE signs off on budgets, oversees alternative
schools and school programs for juvenile delinquents, addresses
issues of eminent domain and works on legislation affecting
K-12."
According to Bedell,
last year more than 900 bills were presented before California
legislators, and most of those were reviewed by CCBE.
"Actually, 900
is low," he noted. "Usually, about 3,000 bills
are presented each year. Because this is an election year,
we are expecting the number to be closer to 3,000 than 900.
The reason we review all these pending bills — everything
from water usage to land development — is because there
may be areas that will affect education."
In addition
to extensive reading, Bedell also can expect to meet with
legislators in Sacramento about twice a month to discuss
various bills and issues that may affect education.
With
a busy schedule at the university, as well as serving on
the North Orange County Board of Education, why take on this
challenge?
"I
have a passion for education," he said. "It's
important that we take our children's education seriously
and do what we can to ensure that opportunities are there
for children to grow and learn."
For instance, several
years ago, Bedell discovered that children in rural counties
often were less well-prepared for school than their inner-city
contemporaries.
"In small communities,
perhaps the local high school can only afford one science teacher," he
explained. "It can be difficult for these kids to meet college requirements
if they don't have access to teachers or schools that can adequately
prepare them. Children of migrant workers, who are often in these rural areas
as well, have it even worse. Because they're often
moving around, they lose the continuity of a sound education.
"Educating our
children has got to be a priority for our state," he
said. "That's
why I am eager to take on this task."
Bedell, a Fullerton
resident, joined the university faculty in 1969 and is serving
his fifth term at chair of the Academic Senate. A graduate of Franklin and Marshall
College, he earned his master's degree and doctorate from Case Western
Reserve University.
Media Contacts: |
John Bedell at 657-278-2737 or jbedell@fullerton.eduValerie
Orleans, Public Affairs, 657-278-4540 or vorleans@fullerton.edu
|
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