Buy The BookALAN BERSIN AS CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
Governor Schwartzenegger recently appointed Alan Bersin to the position of California Secretary of Education.
The San Diego City School Board voted to buy out the contract of Bersin one year before it was due to expire. This is a sanitized way of saying he was fired.
Interesting that a person who was fired as Superintendent of San Diego City Schools would be chosen to receive a promotion. Hmmm…. this seems to be the same procedure that Bersin followed--promotion of people who did a bad job. ( Barnard School principal took the school from a "10", the top, down to a "1", the bottom, in a two year period, and was then given a promotion.)
The position of California Secretary of Education is an appointed office, done by the Governor and needs no approval.
However, the five Senate Rules Committee members can, if they choose, refuse to confirm the appointment of Bersin to the State Board of Education.
As of May 21, 2005, a vote had not been taken.
You may write letters (snailmail), or send faxes to the five Senate Rules Committee members, or you can just write to the Chair, Don Paralta, and ask that he have it routed to the other members.
A simple one- or two-paragraph letter, asking them not to approve Bersin, and one or two reasons why, is all it takes.
Contact information:
Chair:
Senator Don Perata
Chair of the Senate Rules Committee
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax-916-327-1997
Members:
Senator Gil Cedilla
State Capitol, Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax-916-327-8817
Senator Debra Bowen
State Capitol, Room 4040
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax-916-323-6056
Senator Roy Ashburn
State Capitol, Room 5094
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax-916-322-3304
Senator James Battin
State Capitol, Room 3067
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax-916-327-2187
You may also wish to call the Governor office and express your opinion of his appointment of Bersin:
Governor Schwartzenegger's Sacramento Office,
(916) 455-2841
Governor Schwartzenegger's San Diego District Office
(619) 525-4641