I have talked with a number of high school graduates from Tesoro High School. A few of them are frustrated with our current national economy because they can not find a summer job. All are looking forward to their onward journey. Some are heading east to Ivy League schools.

Quite a few students I talked with are going to Saddleback University for their two year college education. Due to the budget shortfall there are very few summer classes. I find students in workout facilities, beaches and parks. Talking with these youngsters fascinates me. They are our country’s future. I find majority of them are very responsible.

Chaparral Elementary school has a new principal, Mr. Joe Mc Gann. We at the Ladera Times welcome him and wish him every success here in Ladera Ranch.

The Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board has finally adopted a budget.

At the June 22 Board meeting, the $372 million budget was rejected by a 3-4 vote. The major issue was elimination of 20-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio in the primary grades.

An emergency meeting was then held on June 24 and was attended by the four Board members who opposed the earlier budget with the other three absenting. The budget was passed retaining the Grade 1 class size to 25-to-1.

The administrators took a salary cut of five percent and 12 furlough days a year. The Unions (Classified, Teachers and Teamsters) did not agree with a proposed 10 percent salary cut (which would be equal to the administration’s five percent cut and 12 furlough days)!

The CUSD Board has declared an impasse with the Unions and has approached the state Public Employment Relation Board for a mediator. At this time we do not know of any progress.

At the July 13 Board meeting, interim superintendent, Ms. Bobby Mahler, requested an additional $4,000 a month for her personnel services. I am glad to see that this request was voted down.

The agenda item requesting a change in the Board meetings schedule from Monday to Tuesday every month was tabled for the next Board meeting.

A group of citizens from the CUSD has submitted about 1200 signature to the County Department of Education requesting a change in the voting process. At present all seven Trustees are elected at large throughout the CUSD boundary. It is proposed that the trustees be elected by the district they represent.

If 750 signatures are found valid, the proposal will be reviewed by the 11 member County Committee at the Department of Education.

The CUSD Board had an agenda item on this subject. It was interesting to notice the reaction of the members specially the ones who will be up for re-election in 2010. I will report more on this issue as it progresses.

(Editor's Note: Ram Mukherji, a former elected school board member and Vice President of the LARMAC Board of Directors, is expected to be a candidate for the Capistrano Unified School Board in District 2, which includes all of Ladera Ranch, a seat currently held by Marlene Draper. He would run in 2008, or earlier should the seat be vacated before then by the resignation or recall of Ms. Draper.)