From a @SBCounty School Board Member: $3 Million going to lawyers not teachers; this was one of the reasons I could not support the budget presented by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools @SBCo_Supt_Ted . I was very troubled to hear many parents give testimony
about how amid the Corona virus outbreak, they are being sued by districts to deny needed services for their children with disabilities. I asked several questions of staff and received answers to some but not to others. There seems to be a fund used to pay attorneys who are
about how amid the Corona virus outbreak, they are being sued by districts to deny needed services for their children with disabilities. I asked several questions of staff and received answers to some but not to others. There seems to be a fund used to pay attorneys who are
suing students, but the services are labeled as "instruction" related expense which is very misleading. At first glace it may seems that the money is being spent on instruction for a teacher to help a child but according to the testimony, the money is being used to pay for
profit litigators to deny children with disabilities the help they need. The West End area alone accounts for $1,557,228 and there appear to be other funds such as the $14 Million "Responsible Local Agency" (another name for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools)
fund; the $34 Million "Other" Services fund; the $137 Million, no questions asked, Pass Through Special Education fund; for which I did not get answers to my question which was: How much money out of these funds is being spent on attorneys? Given the testimony we heard and the
lack of transparency, I could not, in good conscience approve a budget that did not provide sufficient information and assurances that our county dollars were being properly used. I represent the public and take my oversight responsibility very seriously and even if I am the
lone vote, I will continue to advocate for the taxpayers of Area B. other funds such as the $14 Million "Responsible Local Agency" (another name for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools) fund; the $34 Million "Other" Services fund; the $137 Million, no questions
asked, Pass Through Special Education fund; for which I did not get answers to my question which was: How much money out of these funds is being spent on attorneys? Given the testimony we heard and the lack of transparency, I could not, in good conscience approve a budget that
did not provide sufficient information and assurances that our county dollars were being properly used. I represent the public and take my oversight responsibility very seriously and even if I am the lone vote, I will continue to advocate for the taxpayers of Area B.
