CUSD Update
Editorial Staff

The Capo district might appear to have an accounting system whereby it never runs out of money – on paper, that is. It counts money it doesn’t have and spends the same money over and over again.

The sale of two real estate parcels fell through in 2007 after the district attempted to raise cash by selling unused property. When both deals fell out of escrow, the district put the nonexistent millions of dollars into the plus column. Additionally, the district recently confiscated PTA funds and froze a portion of them. The point of this shell game is to create an illusion the district is continuing to meet a minimum state requirement of maintaining 2 percent reserves.

If not for the pumped-up balance of failed real estate deals and PTA money added to reserves, CUSD would be in jeopardy of a state takeover. Maybe “jeopardy” isn’t the correct term when district officials can’t do the math. Some people question if a state takeover would be better or worse than having incompetents cook the books.

The effort to recall Trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke will probably end up on the ballot. Instead of trying to look like responsible trustees who deserve to keep their seats, Draper and Benecke are hooked on spending. While Supt. Woodrow Carter is holding town-hall meetings to discuss cutting costs, Draper and Benecke continue pushing unnecessary multimillion-dollar projects.

With the state’s financial problems, Carter in his town hall meetings has someone new to blame. Voters will have an opportunity – either with a special recall election this spring or in the November election – to decide whether many years of deteriorating facilities can be blamed on anyone but CUSD decision makers.

One of the showdowns about spending will likely occur at the school board meeting on Mon., Feb. 11. As usual, administrators have placed sensitive items last on the agenda. Following Item No. 35, attendance boundaries, the trustees are scheduled to continue their tug-of-war over amenities at San Juan Hills High School. If anyone can stay until the wee hours, perhaps they’ll hear the board identify the source of money for such things as a synthetic track, bleachers and a concession building at the new high school.

The three reform candidates have consistently voted against pouring more of CUSD’s dwindling funds into the new $150-million high school. If Trustee Duane Stiff will take a stand for fiscal responsibility, he could stop the overspending with a 4-3 vote on Monday night. The district is facing loan payments on the new administration building, which will apparently be paid with Ladera Mello-Roos funds. The projects at the new high school will allegedly be paid with the same money, and the district can’t have it both ways. Parents who have followed the growing financial crisis say the General Fund will be tapped, taking directly from funding for classrooms.

A discussion of Carter’s contract is also on the agenda Monday night. He has sided with the Fleming-era trustees when he’s had a clear choice of supporting reform or continuing in Fleming’s footsteps. At least Carter is demonstrating his math prowess of counting four votes.