CUSD Update
Editorial staff

The Capistrano Dispatch recently reported that Supt. Woodrow Carter’s contract will be publicly reviewed by the board of trustees on June 16. Concerns about a “golden parachute” clause in his contract continue to cause questions. Who added the clause without knowledge of the full board? The three reform trustees issued a news release saying the wording of the contract they reviewed and the one he signed weren’t the same.

From the Dispatch article about Carter’s contract: “While the first draft includes a government code section spelling out that Carter could receive up to 18 months’ pay if he’s fired, the final contract says he’s ‘entitled’ to the severance.”

Carter reacted by saying he wouldn’t do anything “underhandedly,” and he hadn’t intended to create any golden parachute in the contract he signed. For the amount of money Carter makes, $273,000 annual salary or $324,950 with benefits, those paying him (taxpayers throughout the district) expect him to know if the contract he’s signing has been changed.

Parents who have read his contract and its added-on clause say it isn’t legally binding. Carter publicly rejected the contract. He can’t sign a contract after rejecting it, and the other issues don’t matter when a contract isn’t legal. When Carter is terminated – and that likely will happen after the recall election on June 24 – he won’t be entitled to 18 months’ pay.

A CUSD parent forwarded CUSD math test scores that were posted on an Orange County Register discussion board. She added, “It’s just so disheartening to see that so many CUSD students are being failed by the district when it comes to math.” And what is the district’s response to the scores? It appears they didn’t want the public to know. The scores were left off the CUSD Website. The information was found on the California Department of Education’s Website.

Here’s how CUSD high schools are doing in math according to California standards. District-wide: CST Algebra I – 53% advanced or proficient; CUSD CTS Geometry – 45% advanced or proficient; CUSD CST Algebra II – 43% advanced or proficient. Perhaps these numbers will shed light when district officials avoid talking about really troublesome issues of looming bankruptcy and direct attention to those “great CUSD test scores.”

The parent who researched the information suggested the high schools weren’t entirely to blame. She suggested elementary and middle schools are playing a role by failing to prepare students for high school math.