CUSD Update

Ex-superintendent James Fleming will answer in court for misappropriation of public funds, the most serious of charges against him. On Feb. 26, an Orange County Superior Court Judge dropped conspiracy charges against Fleming and a former assistant superintendent, Susan McGill. Fleming and McGill were charged in 2007, and the trial has been postponed nine times. Another hearing is scheduled for April 2.

After the Capistrano Dispatch posted an article about court proceedings on Feb. 26 http://capistranoinsider.typepad.com/beyond_the_blackboard , both sides proclaimed the court decision a victory in their online comments. Fleming supporters were pleased that conspiracy charges were dismissed. Others said it was a victory for the prosecution because Fleming had tried to get all charges dismissed.

Posts can also be found on the Capistrano Dispatch about the plans to recall two CUSD trustees, Ken Lopez-Maddox and Mike Winsten. Several organizations have passed resolutions against the recall, including the Orange County Republican Party, Saddleback Republican Assembly and California Republican Assembly. Those opposing the recall say it is a union-backed effort

Initially, recall supporters said they have 3,000 signature gatherers, and they expected to get all the signatures within nine weeks in order to qualify the recall for the November ballot. Last week, recall supporters posting on blogs said they have “hundreds” of signature gatherers, and they will stop the recall effort if they don’t get the signatures in time to qualify for the November election. With the recall effort now down to eight weeks to qualify, no reports have been heard of the petition being circulated as of this writing, Feb. 27.