Capistrano USD Update
Business as usual, needs go unmet

Meetings will be held Sat., April 21, 8:30 a.m. and Mon., April 23, 7:00 p.m. at 27430 Morro Drive, Mission Viejo. The same content will be presented at each meeting. Organizers are gathering support to demand a theatre at Capistrano Valley High School for the students of Mission Viejo. Following is the message being distributed to parents and other Capistrano Unified School District residents.

The battle cry of CUSD, to the state of California, is equalization. It is time for CUSD to equalize facilities at their high schools. CUSD residents of Mission Viejo must stand up and fight for what is right for the children who attend Capistrano Valley High School or no one will do it. CVHS is the ONLY high school in South Orange County without a performing arts facility. CVHS opened in 1977 and is nearing its 30th anniversary. In 30 years, the CUSD leadership has not even attempted to right the wrong of not providing equal facilities to high school students in the district. CVHS waited 25 years to get a pool, which was built only because parents and community members decided the students had waited long enough. After the April 2 CUSD board meeting, it has become clear that the only way the students of our city are going to get the facility they deserve is if the community forces the project.

During the board meeting, a discussion was held regarding the need for a synthetic track and field at the new San Juan Hills High School (SJHHS). The four old trustees, Stiff, Darnold, Draper and Benecke, went on at length about how unfair it would be for the students of SJHHS not to have what the students at the other district high schools have. Even though there will only be between 600 and 800 students and there will be no varsity sports, they stated all students at each school should have comparable facilities. They even went on about how the fields were classrooms that served many students. The cost of the new track and field is approximately $2.5 million, much more than the other schools’ tracks and fields. Part of the reason for this high cost is that they apparently planned and installed grading, drainage and irrigation for a standard track and field, and this must be removed and changed.

Two recently elected trustees, Addonizio and Christensen, questioned the timing of this $2.5-million expense, considering the serious facility needs in the district. Addonizio added that the trustees should not forget that CVHS still awaits a theatre. Benecke snapped back that Addonizio needed a lesson in funding.

Given that the four old-guard trustees have not figured out a way to provide equitable facilities to CVHS students after 30 years, it seems they are the ones who need a lesson in funding.

One person attending the meeting stated, “Benecke's poor behavior as the president of the board is reprehensible. She is rude, arrogant and behaves in a very unprofessional manner. In fact, she has no manners. She publicly treats the three new trustees and the public rudely and with disdain and, therefore, treats all of us badly. She is telling us that the representatives we elected have no say in what the board does. I have never seen such poor behavior by an elected official in a public meeting. The board's behavior sent a message to the constituency – they don't care that our students don't have the proper educational facilities as long as SJHHS does. We must make them care!”

The school has formed a foundation to help build a theatre. The annual fund-raising event will be held Sat., April 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please pass along this information and invite others. CVHS needs a theatre NOW! For information about the fundraiser, email bskalsky@gmail.com.