As we bid good bye to 2009 all the students, teachers and administrators of Capo Unified School District (CUSD) are enjoying the winter recess. On January 4, 2010 the schools will reopen.
I have been asked by quite a few faithful Ladera Times readers whether I am employed by CUSD, or I am on the CUSD Board.
I am a resident of Ladera Ranch interested in education. My entire life has been involved in education as a professor, trustee and mentor of students.
I am also interested in CUSD affairs as my life savings is invested in the home in Ladera Ranch which can be directly affected by the well being of CUSD.
With that being said, let us look into the CUSD Board affairs.
In the December meeting the Trustees elected Ms.. Anna Bryson as it’s President with Trustee Madox as the vice President.
The December Board meeting was very colorful with about 1200 teachers and parents protesting against the Board of Education. At one point, the four Board members headed by Anna Bryson recessed for about 15 minutes thereby stopping the public session.
The District is trying to meet the $25 million short fall by reducing expenses by reducing teachers’ salaries, increasing class size, and so forth.
The District and teacher’s union have reached an impasse in their negotiation process. The state mediator is trying to break the impasse and I do not know the current status.
One question on the minds of many concerned is why the District is spending money in lawsuits?
The Trustees are proceeding to sue the County education officials over the date of an upcoming election to decide whether the trustees will be elected by the population at large or by district.
Instead of applying for the waiver at the State Board of Education for the election cost relief, the Board has agreed to spend money fighting the issue at the court level!
The County lawsuit against ex-superintendent James Fleming and his associate Susan McGill is again stayed through February.
The Orange County judge has thrown out the lawsuit by the immediate past superintendent Woodrow Carter for damages of about $487,000. The judge claimed the contract language was "unambiguous."
However the judge did give Mr. Carter a 21-day window for amending and resubmitting the claim. Let’s see which way Mr. Carter will proceed. In Legal fees the District has spent about $67,000 through February 2009, and more litigation will only add to this expense.
From all of us at Ladera Times, we wish all of you a Happy Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year.