CUSD Update

Ex-superintendent A. Woodrow Carter might finally be through trying to sue the Capo school district. The board of trustees fired him on March 9, 2009. Carter filed his first lawsuit in May 2009, claiming wrongful termination and asking for 18 months’ severance pay.

When Carter’s lawsuit was dismissed by a Superior Court judge in December, he filed a $5.5 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against the district. The judge ruled on March 19 that Carter had no grounds to support his claim. The March 19 decision was the final ruling, although Carter could still appeal.

In the salary negotiations between the CUSD Board of Trustees and the teachers union (CUEA), an independent negotiator on March 15 released recommendations in a Fact Finding Report. Trustees had asked teachers to take a 10-percent pay cut. The report recommends only a 1-percent pay cut. Also recommended is shortening the school year (cutting three days in 2009-2010 and five days in 2010-2011). Class size would increase by two students.

The 22-page report can be found at http://capistranoinsider.typepad.com/files/fact-finding.pdf

The teachers union accepted the report’s recommendations on March 15. Trustees have the option of implementing the recommendations, returning to the bargaining table or standing by their earlier offer.

No new developments surfaced during the past week about the effort to recall two CUSD trustees, Ken Lopez-Maddox and Mike Winsten. The signature-gathering process is into its third week. Lopez-Maddox issued a press release on March 14, asking the recall supporters to stick with their decision to gather the required number of signatures (22,000 valid ones per trustee) by May 1 or end the recall effort. If enough signatures can be gathered by May 1, the recall would be on the November ballot. Recall supporters initially said they intended to avoid a special election.