CUSD Update
Editorial staff

There’s little doubt about it – the Fleming-era majority on the Capo school board will end in 2008. The deadline to turn in signatures for the current recall effort (targeting Trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke) is Jan. 29, 2008. Voters will soon learn if they’ll have the opportunity to dump the two incumbents in a special election, which would likely occur in April or May.

For the recall to qualify for the ballot, recall supporters need 20,500 valid signatures per trustee. This number represents 10 percent of registered voters in the Capo district. Recall proponents will likely want a cushion of several thousand signatures to offset those disqualified (e.g., not registered voters or residing outside the district).

Without the recall, all four holdover trustees (Draper, Benecke, Mike Darnold and Duane Stiff) would be up for reelection in November, and Draper has already said she won’t run again. After the wide margin of victory for reform candidates in November 2006, recall supporters are confident no Fleming-era trustee will win another election.

With only three reform-minded trustees on the board, the most important decisions throughout 2007 were controlled by Fleming holdover trustees with 4-3 votes. A recall supporter commented, “The district administration continues to spend time, effort and money on damage control and spin instead of education. As soon as the majority changes on the school board, the first order of business should be a thorough housecleaning. I’m very tired of board meetings that focus on dog-and-pony shows with administrators congratulating themselves. It’s tough to get anything fixed after watching the circus performers claim everything is wonderful.”

As another matter, controversy continues over a Capo Valley High School teacher’s comments in an American history class. A 16-year-old student, Chad Farnan, and his parents filed suit against James Corbett for making anti-Christian remarks. According to those supporting Corbett, an instructor is entitled to exercise his rights to free speech. Those supporting the student say the teacher often uses highly inappropriate and offensive remarks during class. On a tape recording made by the student, the teacher said in an Oct. 19 lecture, “When you put on your Jesus glasses, you can’t see the truth.”

According to a Dec. 20 article in the L.A. Times, the student’s sister said of the instructor, “If he wants to teach like that, he should be at a university.”

No explanation was given as to why university students wouldn’t be offended at anti-Christian remarks. A minister attending a Dec. 19 rally near the high school said the lawsuit is overdue. In today’s politically correct world, it may appear that all creeds except Christianity are protected from slams and insults.