CUSD Update

The group wanting to recall two Capo school district trustees received word on March 1 that the Registrar of Voters approved the petitions. Trustees Ken Lopez-Maddox and Mike Winsten are targets of the recall.

The recall group calls itself Parents for Local Control. Early opponents of the recall include the Orange County Republican Party, Saddleback Republican Assembly and California Republican Assembly. After the three organizations indicated the recall effort is being backed by the teachers’ union, the recall group denied that the union is involved.

Organizers of the recall say they will gather 30,000 signatures per trustee before May 1. Approximately 22,000 valid signatures per trustee are required to qualify the recall for the ballot. Only signatures of registered voters who live in the Capo district will count toward the required number.

May 1 is the deadline to qualify for the November ballot. Recall organizers initially said they would either gather the needed signatures by May 1 or stop the signature-gathering process. While they would have 150 days to gather signatures, they first said they would stop rather than try to qualify for a special election. Their current position on a special election isn’t clear. Recall organizers also stated they will rely entirely on volunteer signature-gatherers.

Capo residents say they had not seen anyone at storefronts gathering signatures as of March 5.

The CUSD Board of Trustees held a special meeting on March 1 to discuss hiring a permanent superintendent and to approve contingency plans if teachers walk out because of stalled contract negotiations. The staff report regarding the walkout indicates a goal of keeping all schools open, and the superintendent is authorized to hire interim help if needed.