Proposed Bill to Restructure O.C. Board of Education Sparks Concerns

The battle over a bill proposing to add two trustees to the Orange County Board of Education and move its elections from the primary to November is heating up, with supporters claiming it’s about enhancing representation and opponents alleging it’s a politically motivated move to reconfigure the conservative majority panel.

Co-authors of Senate Bill 907, Josh Newman and Dave Min, argue that the legislation would diversify the board and allow for better representation of the county’s 3.15 million residents. They believe that holding elections in November, when turnout is higher, would give more voters a say in selecting board members.

However, current trustees on the Board of Education, many of whom have served for years, see the bill as a partisan attempt by Democrats to dilute the conservative majority on the panel. They argue that the bill is being pushed by teachers unions and is not a true effort to improve representation.

President Tim Shaw, who has spoken out against SB 907, believes that the decision to change election dates and expand the board should be a local one, not dictated by state legislators. He also questions why the bill only targets Orange County and not other counties with similar issues.

Despite the opposition, Newman and Min are determined to see SB 907 through, citing concerns about the board’s strong pro-charter school stance and the need for more diverse voices in educational decision-making. The bill, if signed into law, would not take effect until 2026, giving current board members time to adjust to the changes.

The debate over SB 907 is far from over, with both sides digging in their heels and preparing for a fight over the future of the Orange County Board of Education.