A broken process
Staff editorial

At the April 3 council meeting, Council Members John Paul Ledesma, Gail Reavis and Trish Kelley put similar items on the agenda in response to requests from Capistrano Unified School District parents. They asked for an audit of CUSD funding to explain why schools in Mission Viejo have been declining for years. Despite the unanimous vote of 5-0, the process was acrimonious.

Kelley began the discussion of CUSD funding with a rambling speech, often talking about herself. Before Ledesma could get a word in, Councilman Lance MacLean began reading a lengthy letter from CUSD Supt. Fleming about money that might come Mission Viejo’s way. With parents throughout the district raising fresh hell over declining facilities, Fleming may have felt compelled to list things that might happen.

It was still Ledesma’s turn to speak, as he was one of those putting the item on the agenda. MacLean, after reading Fleming’s letter, instead acknowledged Kelley again, who continued talking about her personal experiences.

Ledesma had not yet had a turn and again asked to be recognized, but MacLean turned to the city attorney to ask questions. The rambling continued.

When Ledesma finally got a turn, he said the CUSD issues had escalated to the point the city needed to get involved on behalf of the residents. Reavis spoke briefly, deferring to Ledesma, but saying CUSD’s comprehensive mission statement indicated the community has a right to hold the district accountable.

Councilman Frank Ury’s diatribe criticized everything and everyone but offered no remedies. He said, “Do you want to hear a speech or do you want to hear what we can do, because I’ve heard three speeches. ‘We care, we care, we care.’ It doesn’t take a speech. All it takes is a public records request.” He read through Ledesma’s four-point recommendation: “1) Bring CUSD into compliance regarding facilities. In reality, we can’t. 2) Demand explanation why CUSD is busing in students. That’s just posturing. 3) The audit. That’s reasonable. 4) Publish information in the next City Outlook. Yes.” His strongest criticism was implied against the public for asking the city’s help. Ury said the agenda item was symbolic posturing. He also suggested it was about campaigning, “We’re getting into the season of unnatural political acts, and I’m not interested in flimflamming along those lines.”

MacLean said, “I share Councilman Ury’s sentiments, and I don’t like some of the hype I’m hearing up here.” MacLean suggested council members “get out of town” to see that Mission Viejo schools aren’t the worst examples. He said, “Our schools are not inadequate for a learning environment.” He next referred to the agenda item as extortion. He said “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

Perhaps the reference to flies wasn’t the best choice of words when talking about the trustees or the situation of rundown facilities.

Ledesma again tried to justify the city’s involvement. He said, “I don’t think the average person has the leverage to get information, and we have an obligation.”

While Ledesma was speaking, MacLean attempted to talk over him about Brown Act violations, essentially defending Fleming and the trustees.

Kelley spoke again, “I did fundraising for the schools, and I’m a parent, and I’m on the foundation board trying to raise money for the high school.”

Ury returned to criticizing the recommended action. He said, “This is what happens when you put an item on the agenda and you don’t think things through.” About getting information about busing students, he said, “The district will Xerox their answers. If you’re going to feel better about having them send their answers to you, OK, fine. This is very poorly thought out, but if you get the answers from us instead of CUSD, and people will feel better about what they’re doing, fine.”

After a particularly contentious discussion over Ury’s attempt to divide the question, which failed, MacLean insisted on rereading the entire motion. The agenda item passed 5-0.

The matter at stake was parents trying to get the city to intervene to get CUSD to clean up and renovate schools in Mission Viejo. With no opposition in the audience – and possibly no opposition in the entire community – why did the discussion become contentious and acrimonious? When elected officials cannot follow civil procedures to conduct a simple business matter, perhaps voters will see fit to change the council makeup on November 7.