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Guide to the California State Commission on School Districts records, 1939-1949 (1945-1949)
MSS 1980/02
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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.
The California State Commission on School Districts assembled these papers over many years. They were later donated to CSU
Sacramento.
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.
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.
Processed by Gurkiran Kaur.
[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.
No additions are expected.
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