All schools of Capo Unified School District will open on September 8, commencing the 2009–2010 school year.
Registration of freshman students for high and middle schools are in progress.
Incoming freshman students are wearing their new school colors, and t-shirts.
Students who are into athletics are getting medical clearances. I found some have already started football practice. One can see the school athletes in local gyms.
We at the Ladera Times wish all the students a successful school year.
Board News
The CUSD is expecting a mid year budget adjustment for the 2009–2010 school year. Further cuts are also anticipated in future school years.
The August School Board meeting did not have any speaker for public comments. This is the first time in last five years that there was no "blue card"!
Maybe the public is getting settled with the new Board or is frustrated speaking to the Board!
Starting this month the monthly Board meeting will be held on Tuesdays, beginning with the September 15th meeting.
Legal Matters
The trial for James Fleming and Susan McGill, both retired and 66 years old, is delayed for the eighth time until October.
This time the prosecution requested for the delay as one of their key witness has a scheduling conflict.
Both Fleming and McGill are indicted for misappropriation of School District fund by creating enemies list, campaigning against all seven trustee recall candidates, and so on.
Both have entered not guilty plea.
District Voting
As I said I suspected in my last month’s column, the majority of the current Trustees would like to see the November 2010 Capo School Board election is held with voting at large, i.e. the three seats up for election will be voted by the entire district constituents.
The CUSD resolution to change the voting method, at large vs constituent districts, will be on the November 2010 ballot to be voted by South County voters and, if passed, will be effective with the 2012 election.
This resolution passed by a vote of 5 to 2, with Brick and Maddox dissenting.
This issue is with the Orange County Committee on School District reorganization comprised of 11 members.
In late August the OC Committee may decide to overturn the CUSD Board’s resolution by having an earlier election, maybe in 2009 or early 2010, which may cost the cash strapped District additional money for the special election unless the fund is appropriated from the County.