SJC Council Revisits School District Issue
Letter to the editor

This coming Tues., Oct. 1, the San Juan City Council will consider a resolution to retract the council's previous unanimous opposition to the 2005 CUSD recall (see recall document in this week’s edition). The council's 2005 resolution to oppose the recall was unprecedented at the time. In fact, SJC was the only council out of seven city councils in the district that took a position on the recall. SJC council members voted to oppose it despite tremendous outcry against their taking a stance, which was expressed by speakers at the council meeting in 2005.

Given what's happened in the district, with the ongoing District Attorney's investigation, the Grand Jury probe resulting in the indictments of former Superintendent James Fleming and former Assistant Superintendent Susan McGill for misappropriation of public education funds, etc., the DA's stated intention to file charges against the Fleming-era trustees for Brown Act violations and resulting lawsuits against CUSD for the trustees' actions, I hope everyone will join me in expressing support for this resolution. While largely symbolic, the resolution will help to heal some of the damage created by the then-council's decision to oppose the recall. It was a real slap in the face to those of us who were disturbed by the actions of the school district against parents and children in CUSD. 

SJC council members should not have opposed the recall, but they did. They now have an opportunity to undo the previous action. If you agree, please pass this message on and urge the SJC council members to join their fellow council members from the cities of Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Ranch Santa Margarita and San Clemente in denouncing the actions of district officials, by voting in favor of this resolution.

Thank you for your continued support! 

Kim Lefner
CUSD parent