Weasels in the Easels
Staff editorial

A community activist discovered an amusing pile of rubble on April 22, which is officially designated as Earth Day. The heap of trash wasn’t dumped by vandals. The in-your-face message to residents was created by Mission Viejo’s city staff. Hundreds of expensive, custom-built easels purchased with city tax dollars ended up in a heap near the city’s corporate yard off La Paz Road. The rubble could be seen from the driveway behind Stein Mart and Michaels. After word of the discovery spread, city workers moved the easels from view.

Did everyone see the original display of easels, including those along La Paz Road, during the city staff’s promotion of Mission Viejo’s 20th anniversary? A city employee was apparently the “mastermind,” trying to create a photography display of record-breaking length. Taxpayers are correct to question why the city should fund one employee’s ambition of breaking a world record, which has nothing to do with city services or the function of government.

In December 2007, the city offered to give away 500 taxpayer-purchased disposable cameras for residents to capture “what exemplifies Mission Viejo.” Allegedly, citizens could pick up a free camera, take pictures and return the camera to city hall. Photos were to be displayed as part of the city’s 20th anniversary. Cameras were due back by Jan. 11, but the city was still sending out pleas for their return just prior to putting up the display last month. No information was released about how many residents picked up a free camera, and no one knew if the snag was in distributing free cameras or the unrealistic belief the city would get them back.

Obviously, something went wrong. Numerous blog readers reacted about oversize, laminated photos that ended up on expensive easels in a row along La Paz, circling the community center and along Oso Trail. Many of the photos were generic, as opposed to “exemplifying Mission Viejo.” Few pictures of residents (except council members) appeared in the collection. One person with knowledge of photography asserted that most of the pictures were taken by the same person. Many of the photos were attempted “artsy” shots of leaves, sky, rocks, etc., rather than relating to the community.

“Disposable” is evidently the word of the month in city hall: disposable cameras, disposable easels, disposable laminated photos, disposable “green machine” posters and disposable tax dollars.

City council members should keep in mind that voters revolted several years ago and disposed of two incumbent councilwomen, Sherri Butterfield and Susan Withrow.

For a view of the trashed easels, check out the cartoon feature on this week’s blog.

Reader Response

Is cost being ignored?

I am surprised that nothing is said about the ton of money the city is spending on the 20th anniversary bash, including all the cost of overtime for the city staff.

David

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Unite city schools under Saddleback USD banner

Why do residents continue to believe that the Capistrano Unified School District has any intention of treating the city of Mission Viejo with any level of representation or respect? In my humble opinion, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming recall election, the city will not have an advocate who will fight for what we need in Mission Viejo. It is time to leave the Capo district and join the Saddleback district. Whatever the costs or the time required, the end result will be better than what we have received at CUSD. This is an issue that impacts our property values and, ultimately, the quality of life in our city during the next 25 years. Let’s get the leaders of our city to gather the required information and generate interest in moving this forward.

Ron Frantz
Mission Viejo resident and CUSD parent

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City’s sign shenanigans continue

I couldn't help but notice that many illegal signs for the Kaleidoscope appear to have been "removal resistant" despite resident complaints. During the last campaign season, hundreds of signs were removed by a city-contracted individual, often within an hour of being posted by campaign volunteers. The individual was paid per sign, so he had plenty of incentive to clear as many as possible. Certain incumbents' signs were left standing in place while challengers' signs were taken. One result was a tremendous waste of resources; the other was a distinct advantage for the candidates who could afford to run a direct mail campaign.

Lisa De Paul-Snyder
Mission Viejo

Parents Advocate League Update
by Julie Collier

Another fun evening was spent at CUSD on April 21 that went into the early morning (the meeting was not over until about midnight).

During Oral Communications, teacher Erin Love discussed the generation of teachers being RIF'd. She explained that most of the pink-slipped teachers are exceedingly skilled due to the higher-education level required at the time of their training about 10 years ago. They are the teachers who took more state tests in order to get a credential, as well as completing a higher level of continued education during their first two years of teaching. Love stated, "They are not replaceable."

CUSD parent Kim Lefner discussed the pipeline (that carries jet fuel from Los Angeles Co. to San Diego Co.) near San Juan Hills High School that is not in compliance with building laws. She requested assurance from CUSD to the public that it is safe and that all discussion by Carter and the board should be in the open, not in closed session. She also stated that this situation should be reviewed by independent experts.

Two people discussed the elimination of classified employees that was approved by the board due to the budget cuts. The cuts affect 73 classified positions, such as custodians, aides and technical support. One classified employee said that classified presence is not noticed until it is gone. She also stated that without these people, CUSD cannot maintain the level of service required for our district.

Supt. Carter stated the May revision of the budget could prove to be worse than expected, and next year could be even worse. He showed a "wheel of fortune" chart depicting items that would be restored if the budget improves. Unfortunately, the wheel was not a list of priorities, just wedges of costs; therefore, we do not know what will be restored first. As of this writing, the wheel of fortune chart is not on the district Website. Carter also stated that any employee being laid off will be on a rehire list for 39 months. Carter wants to use money from the Deferred Maintenance funds to help with the budget cuts. Readers can view an article at the Register regarding a teacher's hardship,

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/becerra-teachers-says-2023009-students-job

Good news! Three high schools are getting new theaters due to a grant that would practically fund them. The high schools are Dana Hills, San Clemente and Capo High. Capo High has been waiting for a theater for 30 years while newer schools were built with a theater.

Bad news! Item 51 was approved, requiring all parent volunteers to have a criminal background check and TB tests paid for by the volunteers. This is a well-intended item, but it should not cost unpaid volunteers money. I was the only speaker on this item. Here are the points I made:

• Parents will consider this requirement costly (about $100) and time-consuming (we will have to go to Santa Ana, and TB tests require two visits to the doctor).
• Parents are never to be alone with students anyway and are always in the classroom with the teacher.
• It will create a school district where the wealthy communities will have plenty of volunteers while other schools will have a lack of volunteers.
• We will require as many volunteers as necessary for the larger class sizes, and the cost and invasion of privacy will deter many from volunteering.
• This will cost the district more money because someone or some department will have to oversee that every parent volunteer has passed these tests.

Trustees Larry Christensen and Marlene Draper brought up the same points during the discussion of this item. Trustee Mike Darnold explained that he has been fingerprinted for Boys Scouts at a cost of $8. Carter was indignant and stated, "I can't believe there is even a discussion on this item." On a side note, the discussion was needed because it seemed as though the policy for this is not in place and could be costly and full of red tape. Another PALs member brought up the fact that any parent's record can be reviewed on the Megan's Law Website and questioned why the district needed a complete background check of every volunteer. If readers have questions or concerns regarding this requirement, please contact Supt. Carter at wacarter@capousd.org.

The minutes of the board meeting will not be available until the agenda comes out for next month’s board meeting. Meanwhile, please continue to write to the board members. Tell them how you want the "wheel of fortune" to be prioritized. Look for the wheel at the district Website, http://www.capousd.org.

CUSD Recall Court Hearing Set for April 28
Parent group challenges ballot statements

The CUSD Recall Committee filed a lawsuit last week to strike proposed ballot statements in the June 24 special election to recall two trustees. The group is seeking a writ of mandate to strike certain statements by Trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke, who are targets in the recall.

On Monday, April 28, a superior court judge will hear the lawsuit brought by members of the CUSD Recall Committee asking the court to strike “numerous false, misleading and illegal statements contained in candidate statements filed by recall targets Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke, two trustees of the Capistrano Unified School District.” The matter has been scheduled for hearing before Judge Steven L. Perk at 8:30 a.m. in Department C32 of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana

On April 21, CUSD Recall Committee members filed the legal action in Orange County Superior Court against Draper and Benecke, seeking expedited court intervention to strike certain statements made by the two recall targets in the optional “Candidate Statement of Qualifications” each filed with the Orange County Registrar of Voters on April12. Any final approved Candidate Statement of Qualifications will be published in the sample ballot sent to all voters prior to the special election.

California law requires that a Candidate Statement of Qualifications contain only a brief description of the candidate’s "education and qualifications,” and it expressly prohibits a candidate from including in her Candidate Statement of Qualifications any reference to the “qualifications, character or activities” of her political opponents. In addition, California law prohibits including in any such statements “any material that is false or misleading.”

The group says the Statement of Qualifications filed by Draper and Benecke violated California law in several respects. For additional information and a specific description of the statements made by Draper and Benecke, read a copy of the Petition for Writ of Mandate posted at www.cusdrecall.com.

CUSD Update
Editorial staff

Those who attended the April 21 Capo district board meeting learned that the trustees would not discuss the issue of a high-pressure fuel pipeline buried near the new high school in San Juan Capistrano. A parent who spoke at the public microphone asked why the pipeline issue had been left off the agenda. No answers were provided.

A Mission Viejo resident who attended the meeting reported to the blog, “Supt. Carter’s attitude toward the parents wanting reform or even asking simple questions is uncooperative, and he displays the same condescending manner toward the reform trustees. Does he not believe voters will recall Trustees Draper and Benecke on June 24?”

The April 25 Capistrano Dispatch published the following news regarding the pipeline:

“Capistrano Unified School District has retained the Los Angeles law firm of Bergman and Dacey to investigate apparent errors in a report submitted to the state that allowed construction of San Juan Hills High School within 1,500 of a 16-inch, high-pressure gas line. Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter made the announcement Friday, about a week after athletic fields closest to the pipeline were closed. A parent noted the report says pipeline valves closest to the school could be turned off automatically in an emergency, when they are in fact manual.”

Those who follow CUSD developments should wonder whether the law firm’s investigation will result in spin, deflection of blame, glossing over of issues or litigation. Finding solutions and full disclosure are probably not goals, given CUSD’s history. It is worth restating that Trustee Marlene Draper’s daughter is an employee of the firm that was contracted to do the EIR.

Constituents might remember when the board in February offered Carter a contract as permanent superintendent. He said he would refuse the pay increase because of CUSD’s financial crisis. A CUSD parent discovered that Carter accepted the raise after publicly rejecting it. Perhaps he’s not so troubled after all about the financial crisis of others.

The Feb. 29 Capistrano Dispatch reported Carter’s earlier statement about the raise he was offered:

"Following news of an announced pay raise tied to his permanent role of superintendent of Capistrano Unified School District, A. Woodrow Carter announced that he will not sign a $324,950-a-year contract offered by the CUSD, opting instead to continue working under his current interim deal. ‘I’m troubled at this stage that I would accept compensation at the same time that I’m signing layoff notices,” he said. “This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.’ The district has taken public criticism since announcing last week the three-year deal to pay the superintendent $273,000 annually in base salary and an additional $40,950 in a retirement annuity and $11,000 for health benefits. His interim contract pays $245,000 in salary, $11,000 for health benefits and a $10,200 car stipend."

Last week, the parent said, “The contract he signed is exactly what he told the public he wouldn't sign. He is making $273,000 base plus a $40K annuity, car allowance and insurance, adding up to over $324K.”

The Buzz

A Buzz contributor sent an update following the report of easels trashed on city property adjacent to the corporate yard off La Paz Road. “On April 26, I went down to the Oso Trail, a/k/a Mission Viejo dump, and took photos. When you Google city employee Keith Rattay, you'll find plaudits for his ‘work’ on the trail. He certainly deserves something but not praise.” As pointed out on another blog, Rattay has been a key figure in the city’s spending a fortune to build, maintain and upgrade the trail. The blog contributor’s photos show trash, broken concrete from tennis courts, other construction debris and discarded paper products.

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Idea forwarded by a blog reader: “Regarding foreclosures and property values, the mayor of an Iowa city started a voluntary process to connect local homeowners in foreclosure with their banks and/or investors to negotiate deals to get these properties off the market.” The writer added that foreclosed properties have a negative effect on everyone and wondered about the likelihood of Mission Viejo's city officials envisioning such a project.

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The Capo school district hired a law firm, Bergman and Dacey, to investigate but would not publicly discuss a high-pressure gas pipeline near the campus. Currently, CUSD is in violation of the law preventing a school campus within 1,500 feet of such a pipeline. A parent suggested on a discussion board that the D.A. could have investigated the matter for free. Another writer posted that CUSD needed a law firm outside its usual crony-picked firm, Ratan and Tucker, to avoid a conflict. Bergman and Dacey are members of C.A.S.H. (Coalition for Adequate School Housing), the same organization former CUSD administrator Dave Doomey was involved in. Residents should ask if Bergman and Dacey can objectively represent the public in an investigation. Will the D.A. or feds next be called to investigate the investigation?

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CUSD Supt. Woodrow Carter is in an enviable position: problems are not his fault. Any issue that began prior to his arrival six months ago was “before his time.” If it happened on his watch, it’s the state’s fault for running out of money. Blame the “wheel of misfortune,” which, according to Carter, impersonally dispenses bad luck to schoolchildren, teachers, parents, classified employees and the entire community.

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Anyone wanting to participate in an online O.C. Register poll about completion of the Foothill-South Toll Road can access http://www.ocregister.com/news/should-news-extension-2024321-be-built.

The Register asks readers if the federal government should overrule the California Coastal Commission and allow completion of the road. The Transportation Corridor Agency has requested that the Secretary of Commerce overrule the recent Coastal Commission’s decision to disallow a six-lane road to run through San Onofre State Beach. As of this writing, the results of the poll were 36 percent wanting the decision overruled and 64 percent wanting the Coastal Commission’s decision to stand, with 1,400 readers responding to the poll.