Calling All Speakers, CUSD Board Meeting
Message from a parent

An important Capistrano Unified School District item is on the agenda for the board meeting Monday, August 13.

The CUSD Board of Trustees added payment of former superintendent James Fleming's legal fees to the agenda for Monday's meeting. The trustees changed it from a "discussion" item to an "action" item, which means they intend to vote on it.

We must not let this happen. To vote to use our kids' education tax dollars to defend Fleming when the trustees are making cuts to the classroom, including cutting back teaching staff while increasing class sizes through "funding changes," is just plain wrong. We are running a deficit of $9 million for last year alone (and an estimated $9.5 for the upcoming year); the last thing the trustees should be doing with our money is paying for Fleming's criminal defense.

Even if you have not yet attended a board meeting, it is imperative that you attend the board meeting Monday night, and please speak out about this!

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Please be sure to fill out a blue "request to speak" card (on the table at the back of the room as you walk in; give it to the staff to the left of the dais at the front of the room). Make sure you mark Agenda item # 51 – Fleming's legal fees. You will be given up to 3 minutes to speak, but you don't have to use the full 3 minutes. It might be helpful to write out your remarks in advance. Making a simple statement such as "It's wrong to use our kids' education dollars to pay for Fleming's criminal defense" is very helpful. They need to hear from ALL of us, not just a select few. 

If enough people complain to the trustees, they may be less likely to vote to have our kids pay for his criminal defense (that's essentially what it is).

The location of the meeting is the administration building, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Thank you for your support – see you at the board meeting!