Fireworks at July 11 CUSD Board Meeting
Editorial staff

Front-page stories on Monday and Tuesday in the Orange County Register preceded the Tuesday evening CUSD board meeting when a crowd of angry parents filled the room. After the board completed its business agenda, approximately 15 people spoke during public comments. Many of them demanded the firing of Supt. James Fleming and resignation of the seven trustees.

Many speakers were outraged at the Register’s July 10 report of an enemies list kept by CUSD officials. Those on the list – parents who participated in the effort to recall the trustees – expressed shock at having their children listed as well. At least three of the speakers talked about illegal aspects of the list, implying they would take action.

School board president Marlene Draper admonished the disruptive crowd several times and warned speakers not to take longer than two minutes at the public microphone. Draper threatened one parent with removal from the meeting when she refused to sit down after two minutes. As a security officer approached the speaker, two other parents stood next to her, as if to protect her from being physically removed. At that point, Draper called a recess while security officers and policemen surrounded the speaker, who sat down after a few minutes of discussion.

The position of the school board was expressed by Draper, who denied reports of a “hit” list. She added there was no problem with what staff members had done, including Supt. James Fleming. She claimed employees had acted within the scope of duty, and the news story based on reports from a former employee was not substantiated.

One public speaker, apparently an ally of board members, said she couldn’t believe the Register’s report. She cited the paper’s corrections column as an example that mistakes are printed. While the column usually contains such corrections as misspelled names or incorrect titles, to suggest the newspaper deliberately misrepresented the spreadsheet of 150 names would be well beyond the scope of a corrections column.

Following the completion of the first round of speakers, an audience member questioned the time limit of two minutes each. Draper gave each speaker an opportunity to speak for an additional minute, and half a dozen spoke again. Following the second round of speakers, Draper adjourned the public meeting, and the trustees and Supt. James Fleming went into closed session.