California. State Commission on School Districts.

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Biography / Administrative History

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.

From the guide to the California State Commission on School Districts records, 1939-1949, 1945-1949, (California State University, Sacramento. Library. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hockett, John Alpheus, 1894-. Papers regarding the California State Commission on School Districts, 1945-1949. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn John Alpheus Hockett Papers Regarding the California State Commission on School Districts, 1945-1949 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
creatorOf California State Commission on School Districts records, 1939-1949, 1945-1949 California State University, Sacramento Special Collections & University Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Hockett, John Alpheus, 1894- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
School districts
Schools
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

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