Look at Bryson’s Record

Capistrano Unified School District Trustee Anna Bryson is a candidate in the 73rd State Assembly District race. If she’s running on her record, is she a conservative or a union supporter?

Craig Alexander of Dana Point says he supported Bryson’s first election to the CUSD board in 2006 and her reelection in 2010. From his Oct. 21 article, “After the 2010 elections, many of my friends who also supported her and I were aghast that she so blatantly switched sides and voted with the Trustees who were elected by the teachers and classified unions.” http://ocpoliticsblog.com/gop-blogger-wonders-if-73rd-a-d-candidate-anna-bryson-is-a-union-hack/#more-16449

From Bryson’s campaign website: “Anna took a leading role in the often-painful process of balancing the budget while increasing educational excellence. Employees took salary reductions, competitive bidding was enacted, and anti-nepotism rules were passed. The checkbook and budget were placed on-line so parents could be empowered to act. Soon, the district was in the black.” http://www.annabryson.us/about

According to school board data, the district’s current budget shortfall is $50.2 million. ( http://disclosurecusd.blogspot.com/ ) Here’s a sampling from a two-year period that shows how the district went from a balanced budget prior to the Nov. 2010 election to financial collapse.

In the Nov. 2, 2010 election, three union-backed candidates won seats, but reform trustees still had a 4-3 majority. Soon after the election, former reform trustees Bryson and Jack Brick started supporting the union.

• Mar. 16, 2011, open session revealed the board had restored millions of dollars in pay cuts to union members during a closed session in December. Bryson made the motion, Brick seconded (again) in open session.
• April 11, 2011, the board approved 3 furlough days (and 3.5 the next year) – loss of instruction for students. Bryson made the motion, Hatton seconded.
  July 11, 2011, two minimum instruction days – loss for students. Alpay made the motion, Bryson seconded.
• Sept. 12, 2011, board provided bargaining training for district and union leadership. Bryson moved, Alpay seconded.
• Nov. 13, 2011, pro-union majority increased the district’s contribution to union members’ healthcare premiums. Bryson moved, Alpay seconded.
• Dec. 12, 2011, Bryson voted with pro-union majority to elect a union-supporting trustee as board president.
• Jan. 9, 2012, Bryson voted with pro-union majority to authorize borrowing of funds instead of cutting union salaries and benefits.
• Jan. 25, 2012, Bryson voted with pro-union majority to approve retirement incentive (“Golden Handshake”) to certificated employees, costing $2 million per year for five years with no data or contract to review. Paid for by increasing class sizes. Alpay moved and Bryson seconded.
• Feb. 29, 2012, pro-union majority approved borrowing an additional $12.66 million from County of Orange without reading the agreement. Alpay moved, Bryson seconded.
• Mar. 12, 2012, Bryson voted with pro-union majority against reinstating audiotaping closed-session meetings and against the recommendation of the District Attorney’s report).
• Mar. 28, 2012, Bryson voted with pro-union majority to approve the PARS fixed-annuity plan for certificated non-management employees, $2 million per year for five years, plus $6,000 per year for retiree health benefits. Paid for by increasing class sizes. Alpay moved, Bryson seconded.
• June 11, 2012, Bryson was at a Flag Day dinner when the pro-union majority transferred $21.3 million from programs (education and maintenance) to the general fund (salaries and benefits) on a 4-2 vote.
• Aug. 20, 2012, Bryson voted with pro-union majority to levy a special tax in 11 Mello-Roos districts. She has annually voted to approve this levy every year she’s been on the board except in 2013 when the board voted not to increase it for the 2014 tax year.

A current assessment of the Capistrano Unified School District finds it under the control of trustees such as Bryson. The backwards majority approves furlough days: students are sent home so the district can keep schools open for the employees. See http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/file/1219972013237/1218998864154/6380803883097680478.pdf for a list of the "Pupil Free Days" – Oct. 29, Oct. 30, Feb. 7, Oct. 4, Jan. 6 and Apr. 12.

Throughout the financial free fall that followed the November 2010 election, trustees who voted in the minority on behalf of reform were Ellen Addonizio (Mission Viejo) and Sue Palazzo (San Juan Capistrano). After Palazzo was eliminated by redrawing of area lines and the passage of a union-backed measure to elect representatives by area, Trustree Jim Reardon was elected in 2012. He and Addonizio are the reliable voices of reform on the CUSD board.