I really can not believe that I am writing an article for May 2009 Ladera Times!

The time is going faster than what it seemed like when I was young.

At my age it is worth living in Ladera Ranch where there are so many surrogate grand children to enjoy.

All schools in Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) are getting ready for the end of school year 2008-09. June 18th is the last day of school. The elementary graduating students are getting ready for middle school, the graduating middle schoolers for high school and graduating high schoolers for their onward journey.

After Dr. Kevin Rafferty’s departure, Ms. Debi Culbertson is holding the torch leading Chaparral to do its best. I am sure Kevin will earn his recognition at the new school.

The District continues running without a superintendent, and the district is saving money for a possible future litigation.

The past superintendent James Flemming was again successful in postponing his trial as his attorney quit due to conflict of interest! I can’t wait to see what happens.

At this time the CUSD is facing a $25.5 million deficit for school year 2009-10. It is a tough time for all concerned specially the Trustees.

I admire the CUSD Trustees’ for challenging the two unions, Classified and Educators, for a 10% roll back of their pay. But that did not happen!!!

I also admire Trustee Michael Winsten’s effort in presenting his alternate budget proposal.

No one wants to see class size increase. But given what it is, the Board adopted a budget by reducing administrative costs (all assistant principles and imposing five days non-paid time offs), and certificated (teachers) employee costs, and many more cost cutting measures such as increasing class size, decreasing summer sessions, eliminating counselors and teachers for educating all children (TLC).

I can not blame the Trustees. We are all doing the same thing in our households.

But, realizing the unions are created to serve it’s members, I wonder why they could not work with the management and the Board to avoid any layoffs.

Another observation I have made is the CUSD Board meeting is the working place for the Board in conducting it’s business in public.

When I first saw the District Board room, it seemed so large.

But with huge number of constituents attending the Board meetings, there is no room for the interested parties.

Two meetings back, there was no room for me to even stand! I was asked to sit at the Press table.

That created a challenge as the President of the Classified Union had lots of questions for me. I left the meeting when another reporter came in!

Why not transmit the meetings on live local TV?

The other suggestion I have for the CUSD administration is to request that the union representatives sit in the public stands and let the news reporters sit at the press table.