|
 |
||
|
CUSD update Both the Capistrano Dispatch and the Orange County Register have generously provided the public with online access to 1,300 pages of grand jury transcripts regarding the Capistrano Unified School District. The grand jury investigation led to the May 24 indictment of former CUSD superintendent James Fleming and former assistant superintendent Susan McGill. The Capistrano Dispatch link is The link to documents at the Register is Some CUSD parents who read the transcripts last week said CUSD acting superintendent Suzette Lovely helped create the lists of enemies by participating in high-level cabinet meetings where the lists were reviewed, discussed and enhanced with notes. They cited statements by Fleming’s secretary, Kate McIntyre. An article by an OC Register reporter challenges their conclusion, saying nothing implicates Ms. Lovely in helping create the lists. Given the consensus on most other issues, the question of Lovely’s involvement might be brushed off if she weren’t currently the district’s top official. With testimony now available online, additional inquisitive minds will evaluate the claims of CUSD officials who “did nothing, knew nothing and can’t remember anything.” Here’s a problem with the reporter’s challenge regarding Lovely. Parents who reviewed the entire testimony point to McIntyre’s specific remarks. Parents say, when the remarks are considered in totality, they reveal the lists were copied for a meeting of eight to 10 cabinet members who reviewed and discussed names on the lists and added information. McIntyre identifies Lovely as one of the high-level cabinet participants. Additionally, at least some of the cabinet members named in the testimony as seeing the lists were at school board meetings when both Fleming and President Marlene Draper denied the existence of the lists. No cabinet member corrected their claims. Parents and other community members have repeatedly asked why district employees who knew about the lists and other alleged wrongdoing didn’t come forward. Only former district employee David Smollar told the OC Register about the lists. One must consider the employees were (and some still are) high-level administrators with six-figure salaries. Even the secretary makes six figures. What value did some of these highly compensated employees have except loyalty to Fleming and the ability to keep secrets? Community members who are interested enough to read the testimony should keep this question in mind. |
||