Wiman

Appellant, a social studies teacher, requested a paid leave of absence to enable him to serve on an advisory panel created by the state *1488 Commission on Teacher Credentialing. When respondent school district denied this request, appellant unsuccessfully sought a writ of mandate. We are called upon to determine whether the panel to which appellant was appointed is subject to the provisions of Education Code section 44987.3, requiring school districts to grant leaves of absence without loss of compensation to teachers serving on certain boards, commissions, committees and groups.

Statement of the Case and Facts

Appellant is a tenured, certificated employee of the Vallejo City Unified School District (District), employed to teach eighth grade United States history. On February 21, 1989, he was selected by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (Commission) to serve on an advisory panel in his area of expertise which would advise the Commission on program standards for teacher preparation and specifications for the assessment of future teachers. According to the memorandum describing this advisory panel, it would perform two “essential functions”: (1) “develop and…