CUSD Update

CUSD Update
Editorial staff

Elaine Hart, a principal at Arroyo Vista (K-8 school in Rancho Santa Margarita), resigned abruptly last week. She had worked closely with former administrators James Fleming, David Doomey and others (Casabianca, Henness, Kochendorfer, Crawford, Buffum) associated with the old-guard regime. Some of the parents favoring reform described Hart’s resignation as a further sign of decline for Fleming’s cronies.

Mission Viejo parents in CUSD received a letter last week about redrawing boundaries to alleviate overcrowding at Newhart Middle School. Attendance boundary options were to be posted on the CUSD Website by Nov. 30. Those working on the project include Mission Viejo parents who are well known for their support of reform. One person forwarded the list of recommendations to reduce enrollment at Newhart and provide appropriate facilities:

  • Develop and implement the facilities plan, which provides Newhart Middle School with appropriate middle school facilities. Also refer to the Report by Newhart PTA Modernization Oversight Committee. Conduct an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Newhart Middle School.
  • Reassign study areas 0270 and 0271 (Village San Juan) from Newhart Middle School to Ladera Ranch Middle School. Reassign study areas 0270 and 0271 (Village San Juan) from Capistrano Valley High School to San Juan Hills High School.
  • Reconfigure either Barcelona Hills or Castille Elementary Schools to a K-8 School,without diverting funds from Newhart Middle School.

According to other reports, district administrators are having to address what parents describe as massive mistakes regarding boundaries. In some cases, lines were drawn on the basis of demographic projections. Some schools are severely overcrowded while others are underutilized. One parent reacted by saying the problems have been obvious for years to everyone involved, and those responsible for the mistakes are incompetent.

A CUSD resident who attended the Curricula Subcommittee meeting said that little has changed in the district’s administration. Dr. Ron Lackey (a challenger who lost his bid for a school board seat in 2006) was supposed to have 10 minutes to make his presentation, but his time was reduced to 3 minutes. The ongoing assessment of the subcommittee meetings is that their real purpose is a P.R. effort. New ideas are presented but not acted upon, and nothing changes. As another observation, a parent said the administrators chosen by former superintendent Fleming are still in charge, and they’re directing Interim Superintendent Woodrow Carter. She added, “In the power struggle for control, Carter is not in control.”