P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553-0114

925.289.6900

When 27 Feb 2026
11:45 AM – 1:10 PM (PDT)
Location DENNY’S, 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA
Spaces left 46
Registration
Member – $25.00
Non-Member – $30.00
Register

CoCoTax Lunch, March 27: When Public Schools Stray from Education

COCOTAX INVITATION TO ATTEND A BOARD/MEMBERS LUNCH MEETING FRIDAY March 27, 2026 at 11:45am
The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a LUNCHEON Board /Members Meeting at Denny’s Restaurant 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 11:45 am. Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay ONLINE, or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door-$25 for members, $30 for guests.
ABOUT OUR TOPIC
Coming out of the pandemic, K-12 educational performance locally and across California remains below 2019 levels. Yet Mt, Diablo Unified and other school districts invest substantial effort into non-educational priorities. These include surveying and counseling young children on gender identity and sexual orientation. Worse, school districts often keep parents in the dark about what their children are saying and what advice they are being given.

Mt. Diablo Unified parent Laura Powell has written extensively about these issues and recently provided testimony to a House Subcommittee on them. Laura’s interaction with the pubic school system regarding COVID and “mental health” surveys has impacted her thoughts about politics more generally.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Laura Powell is the founder of Californians for Good Governance, a nonpartisan group dedicated to protecting civil liberties and promoting government accountability in California. She has regularly submitted position letters to legislative committees on bills affecting constitutional rights and governance of behalf of the organization, as well as publishing open letters on issues such as parental rights and racial discrimination. She frequently speaks on legal and policy issues in the media and before the California Legislature, and she writes on a range of topics, including both commentary and investigative reporting as a citizen journalist.

Mrs. Powell’s successes as an attorney of more than 20 years include obtaining a preliminary injunction blocking a California law that violated physicians’ free speech and due process rights, forcing the law’s repeal. Previously, she served as a public defender and appellate defender, handling numerous jury trials and complex appellate cases. She also has experience in international human rights advocacy.

Mrs. Powell earned her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. A graduate of Oakland public schools, she is the parent of two children currently enrolled in public schools in Mt. Diablo Unified.