Guide to the California State Commission on School Districts records, 1939-1949 (1945-1949)

Finding aid prepared by Gurkiran Kaur.

California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives

The Library

2000 State University Drive East

Sacramento, CA, 95819-6039

916-278-6144

scua@csus.edu

2004

Title: California State Commission on School Districts records

Identifier/Call Number: MSS 1980/02

Contributing Institution: California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 2.5 Linear feet (2 record cartons)

Date (bulk): Bulk, 1945-1949

Date (inclusive): 1939-1949

Abstract: California governor Earl Warren (1943-1953) established the Reconstruction and Reemployment Commission. The Commission drafted the Optional Reorganization Act in 1945 to address school district reorganization. The Act created the State Commission on School Districts to survey school district reorganization. The Commission surveyed every county in California and made recommendations to the State Board of Education. In 1949 the State Commission on School Districts was disbanded and the State Board of Education assumed responsibility for the reorganization process. The collection consists of correspondence, commission meetings, legislative proposals, survey plans and reports for all counties except Inyo, Los Angeles, Plumas, and San Francisco.

Language of Materials note: English.

Custodial History note

The California State Commission on School Districts assembled these papers over many years. They were later donated to CSU Sacramento.

Scope and Contents note

Approximately one-third of collection consists of correspondence, reports, research files and minutes of the meetings of the Commission. Specifically, this portion contains a history of the school district reorganization in California, findings and recommendations of the Commission, a complete set of the Commission's minutes from 1946-1949, various legislative bills pertaining to school district reorganization, financial reports, and reports of the Local Survey Committees. Also included is a survey performed in State of Washington regarding School District Reorganization.

The other two-thirds of the collection contains the summaries, plans and progress reports of the Local Survey Committees from all counties in California except the counties of Inyo, Los Angeles, Plumas and San Francisco. It also contains statistical data regarding average daily attendance, current expenses and taxes for various counties.

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open for research. Some restrictions may apply.

Biographical/Historical note

By the end of World War II, California had been transformed into a highly industrialized economy and many new residents were attracted to the state. Concerned about the transition to a post-war economy and potential unemployment problems, Governor Earl Warren established the Reconstruction and Reemployment Commission (RRC). The RRC drafted the Optional Reorganization Act in 1945 to address school district reorganization in California. One result of the Act was the formation of the California State Commission on School Districts, which included Regional Commissions and Local Survey Committees.

The charge of the nine-member commission was to establish committees, conduct surveys, approve or disapprove recommendations by Local Committees, submit reports and make recommendations to the State Board of Education. Local committees, under the supervision of Regional Commissions, conducted surveys and submitted their reports to California State Commission and which in turn made recommendations to the State Board of Education. Regional Directors were appointed by the commission to coordinate the work of Regional Commissions and act as liaisons with the Local Committees.

During the two and one-half years of actual operation, the Commission conducted surveys in every county in California. During 1947 and 1948, it approved 58 local recommendations for reorganization. Out of which local electors accepted eleven recommendations and eighteen more recommendations were subject to local election during 1949. Through these surveys, the Commission found that the matter of reorganization would be an extremely slow process due to several factors such as financial and mechanical obstacles.

In 1949, the Commission on School Districts was disbanded, and the responsibility for school district organization fell to the State Board of Education. Provisions were made for counties to carry on the work the commission had started.

Officers:

Executive Director - Dr. George H. Geyer

Nine members:

Mr. Gilbert H. Jertberg - Chairman, Mr. Arthur S. Crites, Mrs. J. Roscoe Granger, Dr. Edward L. Hardy, Mrs. Edward Shearer, Dr. Roy E. Simpson, Mr. Walter Wells, Mr. John J. Allen (Mr. William J. Tunison upon resignation of Mr. Allen), and Harold B. Roberts - Vice-Chairman.

Processing Information note

Processed by Gurkiran Kaur.

Preferred Citation note

[Identification of item including date], [Folder Title], MSS 1980/02, California State Commission on School Districts records, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library, California State University, Sacramento.

Accruals note

No additions are expected.

Conditions Governing Use note

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives. Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Library, California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The California State Commission on School Districts records were given to the CSUS Special Collections and University Archives in 1980.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Roberts, Harold B.

California. State Commission on School Districts

School districts -- California

Schools

Box 1, Folder 1

History of the School District Reorganization in California, n.d.

Box 1, Folder 2

Findings and Recommendations of the Commission on School Districts, 1949

Box 1, Folder 3

Definitions of Frequently Used Terms with Certain code Provisions and Code References, n.d.

Box 1, Folder 4

Minutes of the Meetings of the State Commission on School Districts, 1946-1947

Box 1, Folder 5

Minutes of the Meetings of the State Commission on School Districts, 1948

Box 1, Folder 6

Minutes of the Meetings of the State Commission on School Districts, 1949

Box 1, Folder 7

Reports on Activities of Local Survey Committee, 1948

Box 1, Folder 8

Actions of Local Survey Committees, 1948

Box 1, Folder 9

School District Reorganization under Chapter 16 of Division 2 of the Education code, 1949

Box 1, Folder 10

Forms, Accumulative Survey Data Unified School Districts, n.d.

Box 1, Folder 11

Assembly Bill No. 960, 1945

Box 1, Folder 12

Assembly Bill No. 2195, 1947

Box 1, Folder 13

Assembly Bill No. 1073, 1949

Box 1, Folder 14

Report, School District Reorganization Bills, 1949

Box 1, Folder 15

An Analysis and Evaluation of Legislation and Constitutional Changes pertaining to the reorganization of local school units in the Forty-eight states, 1938-1947

Box 1, Folder 16

Partial List of Bills affecting School District Reorganization, n.d.

Box 1, Folder 17

Report, Legal and Financial Problems affecting School District Reorganization and Tentative Recommendations for needed Legislation, 1948

Box 1, Folder 18

Memorandum, Need for financial incentives in school district reorganization, 1948

Box 1, Folder 19

Report, Reorganization of school districts and state school finance, n.d.

Box 1, Folder 20

Report, Advantages of Larger School Districts, 1947-1948

Box 1, Folder 21

Bulletin Number 1 - Program for Optional Reorganization of School Districts, 1946

Box 1, Folder 22

Bulletin Number 2 - A Few Facts about Optional Reorganization of School Districts in California, 1947

Box 1, Folder 23

Study, Change in Responsibility for School District Reorganization, 1949

Box 1, Folder 24

Correspondence regarding Operation of School District Reorganization, 1949

Box 1, Folder 25

A Guide to School District Reorganization, 1948

Box 1, Folder 26

A report on School District Reorganization in California, 1946-1948

Box 1, Folder 27

Some Issues relating to the method of Voting upon Proposed School District Reorganization, 1947

Box 1, Folder 28

School District Reorganization - Bibliography, 1939-1948

Box 1, Folder 29

Report: The Case against the Ungraded One-Teacher School, 1948

Box 1, Folder 30

Manual: The Process of Optional Reorganization of School Districts, 1947

Box 1, Folder 31

Manual: The Process of Optional Reorganization of School Districts, 1946

Box 1, Folder 32

Study: The Small School District Problem in a Typical Rural County, 1947-1949

Box 1, Folder 33

Chart, Distance between Small High Schools, 1946-1947

Box 1, Folder 34

The Small School District Problem in a Typical Rural County, 1947-1949

Box 1, Folder 35

Supplement to a Study of School Districts on the West Side, 1948

Box 1, Folder 36

Report: Status of "Non-High" School Districts, 1949

Box 1, Folder 37

Report: California Congress of Parents and Teachers, 1948

Box 1, Folder 38

Booklet: Equal Opportunity for all Children?, 1948

Box 1, Folder 39

Excerpt from "Sacramento Bee" regarding survey on Improvement of Education, 1940

Box 1, Folder 40

A Brief Survey of School District Reorganization in the State of Washington, 1948-1949

Box 1, Folder 41

Miscellaneous - School District Reorganization, 1948-1949

Box 1, Folder 42

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, 1949

Box 1, Folder 43

Report: Tentative Plans for Reorganization of the Hayward Union High School Districts, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 1, Folder 44

The Alameda County Junior College Proposal, 1948

Box 1, Folder 45

Survey Data for Washington Union High School Area (Alameda County), 1948

Box 1, Folder 46

Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Alpine County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 47

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Amador County, 1948

Box 1, Folder 48

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Amador County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 49

Statistical Data for Amador Valley - Livermore - Mt. House Area School Districts, 1949

Box 1, Folder 50

Report of Butte County Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 1, Folder 51

Basic Survey Data for the Butte County Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 1, Folder 52

Study: Calaveras County, 1947-1948

Box 1, Folder 53

Colusa County, School Survey Report, 1948

Box 1, Folder 54

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Colusa County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 55

Opinion of Attorney General on Question by District Attorney of Contra Costa County and Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1948

Box 1, Folder 56

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Del Norte County, 1947-1948

Box 1, Folder 57

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - El Dorado County, 1946-1952

Box 1, Folder 58

A Brief Report of the Activities of the Fresno County Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 1, Folder 59

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Glenn County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 60

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Humboldt County, 1947-1948

Box 1, Folder 61

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Imperial County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 62

Report of the Kern County Local Surve3y Committee Operating under Chapter 16 Division 2 of the California Education Code, 1947-1949

Box 1, Folder 63

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Kings County, 1948-1949

Box 1, Folder 64

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Lake County, 1947-1948

Box 1, Folder 65

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Lower Lake Area, Lake County, 1948

Box 1, Folder 66

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Lassen County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 67

Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Lassen County Report on Big Valley Area, 1949

Box 1, Folder 68

Study: Madera County, 1948-1949

Box 1, Folder 69

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Marin County, 1947-1948

Box 1, Folder 70

Report: Schools in Mariposa County, 1948

Box 1, Folder 71

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Mendocino County, 1947-1948

Box 1, Folder 72

A Case Study of Unionization in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties, 1949

Box 1, Folder 73

Report: Merced County Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 1, Folder 74

A Report in the Proposed Hilmar Unified School District, Merced County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 75

Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Modoc County Report on the Big Valley Area, 1948

Box 1, Folder 76

A Proposal for Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Mono County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 77

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Monterey County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 78

Progress Report of Local Survey Committee of Napa County, 1949

Box 1, Folder 79

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Nevada County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 1

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - North Santa Cruz County Area, 1949

Box 2, Folder 2

Report of the Orange County Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 2, Folder 3

Opinion of Attorney General on Question submitted by County Counsel of Orange County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 4

Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Placer County Report, n.d.

Box 2, Folder 5

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Placer County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 6

Brief Report of Some Potential Unifications for Riverside County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 7

Proposed Banning - Beaumont - Cabazon Unified School District - Riverside County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 8

A Report on the Hemet - San Jacinto Area of Riverside County, 1947

Box 2, Folder 9

A Report of the Sacramento County Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 2, Folder 10

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Sacramento County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 11

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Sacramento County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 12

A Report of Sacramento County Local Survey Committee Excluding Arden School District, 1949

Box 2, Folder 13

The Proposed Salinas County Union High Scool Area Unified School District, 1949

Box 2, Folder 14

A Report on the Proposed San Benito County Unified School District, 1949

Box 2, Folder 15

Report: Unification of School Districts San Bernardino County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 16

Report of San Diego County Local Survey Committee I, 1947

Box 2, Folder 17

Report of San Diego County Local Survey Committee III, 1948

Box 2, Folder 18

Report of San Diego County Local Survey Committee V, 1948

Box 2, Folder 19

Report of San Diego County Local Survey Committee VI, 1948

Box 2, Folder 20

Report of San Diego County Local Survey Committee VII, 1948

Box 2, Folder 21

Report of San Diego County Local Survey Committee VIII, 1948

Box 2, Folder 22

Report: San Joaquin County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 23

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - San Luis Obispo County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 24

Final Report on San Mateo Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 2, Folder 25

Report of Problems and Findings - Santa Barbara County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 26

A Report on the Santa Ynez Valley Area of Santa Barbara County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 27

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - SAnta Barbara Carpinteria Area - Santa Maria Union High School Area (Santa Barbara County), 1949

Box 2, Folder 28

Progress Report of Local Survey Committee for Santa Clara County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 29

Statistical Study: Santa Clara County Schools, 1939-1949

Box 2, Folder 30

Report of Santa Clara County Local Survey Committee Regarding the Oragnization of the East Side Union High School District, 1948

Box 2, Folder 31

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Sierra County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 32

A Report by the Local Survey Committee of Sierra County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 33

A Report on the Proposed Unification of Siskiyou County and Shasta County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 34

A Report on the Proposed Unification of The Etna - Fort Jones Area, Siskiyou County Local Survey Committee, 1949

Box 2, Folder 35

A Report on the Proposed Unification of Siskiyou County Less Areas of Etna Fort Jones, Tule Lake, Butte Valley and Dunsmuir, 1949

Box 2, Folder 36

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts in the Fall River Area of Shasta, Lassen and Modoc Counties, 1948

Box 2, Folder 37

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Solano County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 38

Factual Data and Information Concerning School District Reorganization - Vacaville Area - Solana County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 39

Report of the Sonoma County Local Survey Committee, 1948

Box 2, Folder 40

Report: Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Sonoma County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 41

A Report on the Proposed Patterson Unified School District - Stanislaus County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 42

Basic Survey Data for Sutter County, 1949

Box 2, Folder 43

Proposed Southern Sutter County Unified School District, 1949

Box 2, Folder 44

A Report on Tehama County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 45

Proposal Trinity County Unified School Districts, 1948-1949

Box 2, Folder 46

Summary: School District Reorganization in Trinity County, 1948

Box 2, Folder 47

Report of the Tulare County Local Survey Committee, 1947-1949

Box 2, Folder 48

Report: Tuolumne County, 1947-1948

Box 2, Folder 49

Optional Reorganization of School Districts - Vacaville Area, 1948

Box 2, Folder 50

A Report on the Ventura County Proposed Unified District, 1948

Box 2, Folder 51

Report: Ventura County Local Survey Committee, n.d.

Box 2, Folder 52

Report: Watsonville Area Local Survey Committee, 1948

Box 2, Folder 53

Factual Data and Information for Use of Chairman and Speakers Yolo County Public Hearings, 1948

Box 2, Folder 54

Tentative Plan of the Yuba County Local Survey Committee for the Reorganization of School Districts, 1949