Information

2008-2009 Southern Section Initiatives

The Section’s Initiatives, based on the 2008 Client Survey and support the initiatives of State CASCWA

• Communication: Increase communication with members through e-mail list serves, regular e-mail updates, a current website, member electronic survey, and the CASCWA Connection newsletter.
  
  
• Governance: Continue to involve more members in the leadership of the Section through the use of board committees, to grow future leadership, providing them with meaningful assignments.
  
  
• Legislation: Better serve members through legislative updates via e-mail, and propose legislative priorities to the State Board to address member needs.
  
  
• Marketing/Membership: Assist the State in the development of a membership benefits package to better define benefits and attract younger CWA professionals.  Market CASCWA as organization by visiting county offices, school districts, ACSA events, and college CWA programs.  Invite guests to all meetings.
  
  Professional Development: Administer a survey to determine member interests for 2008-2009.  Host legal or topical forums, including hand-outs of pertinent information.   SARB/Truancy, Gang Prevention and Intervention, and Special Education were identified as the areas of primary interest to section members. 

Actions and Accomplishments 2007-2008

 

Communication

• The outstanding CASCWA Connection newsletter, website, State Conference website, electronic member survey, and E-mail list serve helped to improve communication.

Governance

• The Section effectively recruited and involved new members on its board committees and the State Conference Committee

Marketing and Membership:

• The Section supported CASCWA efforts to increase membership, by individually contacting inactive members in the Section, as well as inviting the  active members, to renew their membership.  Membership is now at 224 active members.
• Marketing items developed this year were the CASCWA coin purse and Queen Mary magnet.

Legislation

• The Legislation Committee provided regular reports on various bills to Section members.

Professional Development:

• National Truancy Prevention Conference, Palm Springs, CA
• Phil Kauble Topical Conference: Held at ABC Unified School District, Cerritos
• The section’s professional development activities are publicized and included in the CASCWA website
• Section members have also participated in and presented in other professional development activities such as the ACSA State Symposium, school district and county office workshops on student records, suspension and expulsion, SARB. COECWA Teleconferences, and CAPPA meetings.

State Conference

 

OVERALL CONFERENCE EVALUATION       5 = EXCELLENT

Overall Rating – 4.76

 

Entertainment: The student entertainment included a total of 101 participating students. 

Keynote Speakers, General Sessions, Awards: Speakers included State Superintendent Jack O’Connell, who presented the Model SARB Awards, Superintendent Dr. Darline Robles of LACOE, Superintendent Chris Steinhauser of Long Beach USD, Superintendent Edward Velasquez of Montebello USD, and Judge Marcus Tucker.

Marketing and Printing:  The Long Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau provided a wonderful free website.  Tom Mangione created an outstanding conference website.

Raffle/Gift Baskets: $1,400 was raised from the raffles for the CASCWA Scholarship Fund

Receptions: The Academy Reception featured HM Jazz Band, led by Tim Catlin of ABC USD and his wife Martha on the trombone, and Linette Hodson, ballroom dance instructor, Director of Student Services, Keppel USD.  The President’s Reception recognized CASCWA Past Presidents and Retirees, and featured Salsa/Motown DJ Fred “Real Deal” McZeal.  Over 100 attended each of the receptions.

Registration: Under the leadership of Laura Castrellon, registration went very smoothly and there were no excessive lines.

Sponsors: The committee secured $17,000 in sponsorships from the following organizations: Lozano Smith; Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud, and Romo; Fagan, Friedman, and Fulfrost; Miller Brown & Dannis; California Credit Union; Columbia Education Services; and School Innovations & Advocacy.

 

Total Number Attending the Conference:

Vendors and Exhibitors:  80 (34 exhibits)

Presenters: 53

Keynote Speakers: 10

Student Participants/Directors: 106

Total Registrants: 273 (W,T,F 183; W Only 7; T,F 61; TH Only 18; F Only 4)

Conference Committee/Staff: 20

Total Participants:  542

2007-08 Southern Section Distinguished Service Award

ROB JACOBSEN, Los Angeles County Office of Education

Rob Jacobsen, Esq.,  has been a sterling Consultant in the Child Welfare and Attendance Unit, Los Angeles County Office of Education, for the past ten years.  Rob is by far one of the brilliant minds in the area of CWA, most notably in student discipline and expulsion.  A former middle school science teacher, Rob practiced labor law with the law firm of Jones and Matson in Los Angeles.  Originally from New York, he is a graduate of UC Irvine and the Loyola Law School.  He is devoted to his family, and spends his spare time in family activities, and enjoys cycling.  A desire to return to education brought him to LACOE, first as a Coordinator of Charter Schools, then as a member of the CWA unit.  Rob is the key consultant at LACOE in the area of expulsion, and writes expulsion findings and serves as an important member of LACOE's administrative hearing panels.  He also is an Interdistrict Attendance Permit Hearing Officer, and lends his knowledge to all of the consultants in the division.  He is a valuable asset in working with the many attorneys that call on behalf of districts or parents.  He serves as a member of LACOE's Charter School Review Committee.  He has served the past few years on the State CASCWA Board, and Southern Section CASCWA Board as Legislative Representative.  He has been active in the Association of Los Angeles County Office School Administrators Legislative Committee, and a frequent presenter at CASCWA and ACSA conferences.  He is an adjunct instructor at California State University, Los Angeles.  Rob never hesitates to help anyone with a question, in Los Angeles County, or for any CASCWA member, and this is why he is so deserving of the Section's top award.