During the Spring Break, the students of Capo Unified School District enjoyed the sunny Southern California weather. The great weather greeted them back to school.
Many of the Ladera Ranch seniors are receiving their college acceptance letters. The seniors, I know, are happy with the acceptance letters from their desired colleges.
Distinguished School
Chaparral Elementary School of Ladera Ranch is again recognized as one of 343 Distinguished Schools in California for their overall achievements.
This is the school’s second such award, the first occurring in 2004.
Congratulation to Principal Dr. Kevin Rafferty, his staff and the students. This is an honor.
Budget Shortfall
As reported earlier, the CUSD is facing close to $27 million budget shortfall.
The District has given layoff notices to teachers saving about $7 million dollars.
In Ladera Ranch parents and the Chamber of Commerce, with the assistance of the Ladera Ranch business community and the Taste of Ladera, are raising money to save the teachers position during the next budget year.
The Ladera Ranch parents’ community is requesting $400 per students from every parent.
At the Taste of Ladera on May 3rd, there will be a booth for CUSD teachers.
I hope this money, once raised, does not fall into the Administration’s hand without any control of it by the CUSD Foundation.
Facilities
We all know the facilities issue in the District: overcrowding in class rooms; portable classrooms as far as I have seen, one with only one window above six feet from the ground; the Taj Mahal built for housing the administration and the San Juan High School.
We have heard a lot about the site selection issues of SJ High School- the school near a dump (fear of Methane Gas), near High Voltage electric lines (fear of magnetic fields) and adherence to California Department of Health Services criteria to site.
Now it has been found the school is about 1000 feet from an active 16-inch manually operated jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel high-pressure pipeline which is supplying fuel to the South of our location.
Jim Reardon, an engineer and former parent, advised the CUSD facilities group composed of three Trustees and staff of his findings.
At present, as a result of this discovery, the two athletic fields will be off limits to the students while an investigation is underway.
As a former fuel supply engineer, I cannot believe that the school is built and occupied by students and this infraction is discovered now! There are various criteria in regards to sitting a school next to a high pressure fuel pipe line, which looks to me, has been ignored.
Special Election
The special election to recall Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke will be held on June 24, at an approximate cost of about $800,000 (more than 10 teacher’s salaries).
In Draper’s District, only one candidate, Sue Palazzo, a retired teacher, has filed. So if the recall of Draper is successful, Sue will be elected to fill her term through November of this year!
Three candidates, Dr. Makam Subbarau, entrepreneur; Gary Miller, retired teacher; and Ken Maddox, local businessman, have filed. So if the recall of Benecke is successful, one of these three will fill her seat until November, 2008.
As I had announced earlier, after a long thoughtful deliberation with my family and my campaign core group, I decided to withdraw my intention to run for Marlene Draper’s seat.
It was a painful decision. But at this stage of my life, I did not want to see my name dragged around in mud!!