CUSD Update, July 25

The Capo school board meeting on July 21 demonstrated that having a 5-2 reform-minded majority will change a lot of things. The biggest problems, however, won’t go away soon. Among the most serious are the district’s financial shortfall and major issues at the new high school, San Juan Hills (SJHHS) in San Juan Capistrano.

During public comments on July 21, several Fleming loyalists indicated they weren’t happy with the outcome of the June 24 recall election. One woman demanded to know what the new majority had accomplished in the three weeks since election winners Sue Palazzo and Ken Maddox were sworn into office on July 1. Another public speaker answered her, saying that the old Fleming regime had taken 17 years to create the problems, and it would take more than three weeks to solve them.

The board voted 4-3 to reject findings of civil engineer Cathleen Fitzgerald, who analyzed risks of the 16-inch aviation-fuel pipeline that runs 1,018 feet from the SJHHS campus. Four board members indicated they weren’t satisfied that the campus is safe. Old-guard trustees Mike Darnold and Duane Stiff, along with Anna Bryson, voted in the minority to approve the report, and Supt. Woodrow Carter showed disappointment that the board didn’t follow his recommendation for approval. However, had the new majority accepted the findings, it would have been viewed by some as sweeping problems under the rug, just as the old board had a reputation for doing. Fitzgerald had used the words “explosion,” “fire” and “emergency” enough times to create doubt, although she said the risks were within acceptable limits.

The board voted 5-2 to approve a forensic audit of SJHHS, going back to its 2002 inception. Topics of controversy over the years have included the site acquisition, purchase price, construction costs, design fees, site grading, furnishings, agency fees, unsafe conditions, property disputes, disagreement on how to finish the school and the failure to mention the fuel pipeline.

Carter appeared displeased with the new majority several times. He also disagreed with the decision to continue having two meetings per month for the next six months. A constituent said, “Carter supported the old majority, and he’s made serious mistakes by lying to the media and the public. He seems unwilling to accept that the direction on the board of trustees changed with the recall.”

The D.A. is currently investigating Carter for adding a $410,000 golden parachute clause to his contract without the full board’s approval. Carter bears responsibility in cutting bus services without preparing and approving an EIR. He was warned about the legal impacts, which he chose to ignore. For the salary he is paid, he should know better, and with all the legal advice the district gets, the law-breaking should stop.

While the district’s problems were caused by the old guard, the new majority now has the power to come up with remedies. It should not delay.