CUSD Update, July 27
Editorial staff

Parents and other community members are continuing to read through 1,300 pages of grand jury testimony regarding the enemies lists and other matters at CUSD. The material will be available online, and the Capistrano Dispatch will likely foot the bill to give community members easy access. To date, the documents can be read only at the courthouse in Santa Ana.

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As reported elsewhere on the blog this week, former superintendent James Fleming has asked the district to pay his legal bills. The district had cut off payment prior to Fleming being charged with felonies on May 24. The four holdover trustees were apparently not expecting the D.A. to issue any charges when they decided to stop paying on March 5. However, their decision could be reversed at the next board meeting, Mon., Aug. 13, when Fleming’s request is on the agenda.

Fleming’s next court appearance is Aug. 10. With his attorney fees running $400 an hour, Fleming has nothing to lose by asking CUSD to pay. His July 9 request (posted on this blog) is addressed to acting superintendent Suzette Lovely. While one might wonder why he didn’t address it to the trustees, a bigger question is who leaked the letter to the Orange County Register. Some people believe the holdover trustees might feel threatened by Fleming’s letter, as if he will implicate them if they don’t cover his bills.

Looking ahead, candidates are already emerging to replace the four holdover trustees up for reelection in November 2008 – Sheila Benecke, Mike Darnold, Marlene Draper and Duane Stiff. One objective of those who supported the 2005 recall effort is finding reform-minded, fiscally responsible candidates with knowledge of finance. CUSD has an annual budget of approximately half a billion dollars, and some of the current trustees embarrass themselves when they attempt to speak about district finances.

In addition to CUSD’s financial crisis and deteriorating facilities, another matter that needs to be resolved in Mission Viejo is sending San Juan Capistrano students back to their own city. Students from some of San Juan Capistrano’s poorest areas attend Viejo Elementary, Newhart Middle School and Capo High School. A Mission Viejo parent said, “We have our hands full trying to take care of Mission Viejo’s poorest families. San Juan Capistrano has a new $140-million high school, and that’s where their students should go.”