School officials in California are fighting for legislation that will give them the flexibility to contract non-instructional services like busing. Current laws won’t allow schools to contract out if it will result in job losses or pay cuts. A very restrictive rule put into place and protected by the powerful California School Employees Association…to “prevent fraud.” The real fraud is that administrators are hamstrung from finding ways to save money and focus more on the instruction of students. Additionally, in one Northern California district, the unions are suing the school district over one proposed contract. The contract would have saved $700,000 a year — the lawsuit will cost countless thousands.