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School Update Capistrano USD: On Aug. 8, prosecuting attorneys asked OC Superior Court Judge Carla Stringer to delay the trial of former CUSD administrators James Fleming and Susan McGill, who face felony charges. The trial was scheduled to begin on Aug. 12. The judge granted the delay and set another pre-trial hearing for Oct. 3. A total of eight candidates are running for four CUSD trustee seats:
Check out Jim Reardon’s blog, http://nzj1hn215k.blogspot.com/2008/08/dept-of-education-approval-declares.html for his post regarding San Juan Hills High School’s deficiencies when measured against California Department of Education standards. An excerpt from Reardon’s blog explains how CUSD originally got approval for the site: ”CUSD accomplished this trick by doing the site development process backwards. They bought the land, designed the school, and even started construction before obtaining approval from the state. CUSD was committed to the site -- in fact, they owned it and construction was under way -- before it was approved. In the application for approval, CUSD set the projected enrollment of the school at a very low figure that made it appear that the school would comply with the state standard. The state was tricked!” Reardon indicates CUSD was successful in proceeding with the new school for at least two reasons: they kept the information secret, and the public wasn’t paying attention. The issue of diminished bus routes will be discussed at the Aug. 11 CUSD board meeting. Saddleback Valley USD: Not all students at Trabuco Hills High School lined up immediately to retake their AP tests. After a judge on July 31 ruled against revalidating their scores, some said they had scheduling issues or they were discouraged over the course of events. Retesting began last week. School officials are reviewing the Aug. 2 incident of a 14-year-old falling 40 feet when he stepped on a skylight while skateboarding on the gymnasium roof at Trabuco Hills High School. The teen was treated at Mission Hospital for broken bones and bruises. School administrators and the Sheriff’s Dept. are working together to determine how to prevent students from accessing the roof. The teen had climbed a lifeguard tower and went from one rooftop to another to reach the spot where he fell through the skylight. The next Saddleback Valley USD board meeting will be held on Tues., Sept. 2, beginning at 6:15 in the SVUSD board room. School begins Thurs., Sept. 4. Countywide school districts: Dana Point resident Dr. Ron Lackey continues to raise awareness regarding the dollars that should be used to benefit special students throughout Orange County. Money has been put into a fund to fight special ed students and their parents instead of serving their needs. Below are excerpts from his Aug. 9 letter to a county official: “We continue to be greatly disappointed with the failure of the Orange County Board of Education to take any action to assist in dissolving the Orange County Special Education Joint Powers Agreement "Alliance,” which has amassed almost half a million dollars, and these funds are housed at the OCBE. ”It is indeed pitiful to think that the 28 Orange County School Districts, as well as the OCBE collectively have, in effect, "conspired" to use limited public special education funds to appeal decisions made by the California Office of Administrative Hearings in cases where school districts have not prevailed in Administrative Hearings pertaining to the program/placement/services of handicapped children in Orange County. To have OCBE employees participating in the giving of funds from this "kitty" in continuing to fill the pockets of participating attorneys is just not right!!! ”We will be in contact with all Orange County school district School Board Members as well regarding the tithing of 50 cents per annum per Average Daily Attendance in order to fill the coffer being housed somewhere at OCBE.” |
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