It was December of 2008 and the La-Mesa Spring Valley School District (LMSVSD) was hurting financially.

With an unprecedented economic crisis taking hold in California, state revenues were plummeting and local school districts were being asked to carry the lion’s share of the burden. Districts across the state faced deep cuts in their already cash-strapped budgets. LMSVSD was no exception. Their district was grappling with a 12% cut from their budget.

While many districts elsewhere in the state were taking a hard look at their finances, the board members of LMSVD set out to cut everywhere they could without sacrificing the quality education provided to their students.

Thorough examination led them to a little-known law that has perpetuated wasteful spending not only in their district, but in districts across the state for years.

The culprit? An obscure state law related to outdated textbooks. Many textbooks were being discarded every year, even if they were just a few years old.

Under current state law, obsolete or surplus textbooks and other instructional materials may only be given to charitable organizations, or sold to an organization that agrees to use the materials solely for educational purposes. Unfortunately, the law had many restrictions on re-selling the materials, making it almost impossible for schools to generate additional revenue from these sales.