State of the Capo School District

Very little information reaches the public about the Capo school district’s grim situation. Here are a few financial nuggets to jolt readers about the state of the district:

• CUSD will have to cut $30 million for the 2012-2013 budget by June 30, 2012.
  CUSD will have to identify an additional $10 million in cuts (because it must plan for November taxes not passing).
• The total that will have to be identified is $40 million in cuts.
• Salary and Benefits are now 92 percent of the CUSD budget. (CUSD has declining enrollment, so this number may go even higher.)

Other financial impacts that most constituents don’t know:

• CUSD has a $70 million TRANs loan (Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes, the loan taken out to cover the deferments owed by the state and are due to be paid in May 2012)
• CUSD had to take an additional $30 million TRANs loan which will cross over fiscal years so when they go to the county for the 2012/13 TRANs loan they will still have the $30 million loan on the books. (This is uncharted territory for CUSD.) (By the way, it was on the agenda in January as $25 million and grew to $30 million without much questioning from the board except from Trustees Ellen Addonizio and Sue Palazzo.)
• Redevelopment Agency -- the state could send this back as General Funds, which means Mission Viejo taxes may go toward more salary and benefits for the unions and not to capital improvements. We just don't know at this point what the state will do.
• Mission Viejo was passing through $1.4 million per year from the MV RDA and those funds had to be spent on capital improvements for MV schools. 
• The RDA has been dissolved and the state is taking the money.  The amount or how it will be sent back to the schools is unknown, but funds are not probably going to be designated for MV school capital improvements or MV schools. Again, the MV taxpayer will be paying for school improvements in other areas.
• Mello-Roos (this is an Aliso Viejo-Mission Viejo Mello Roos, but Aliso Viejo got more than its share) paid for the Aliso Viejo schools and $17 million was used to fund a portion of the District Office.
• Measure A - Nearly 1/3 of the bond was used to pay for a portion of the San Juan Hills High School land and a portion was used to improve Arroyo Vista K-8 in RSM (a city that pays zero in Measure A). Now, apparently, our MV RDA will go to schools outside of Mission Viejo.

Trustee Areas:

With the redrawing of lines and the board’s approval of Map J, Trustees Sue Palazzo and Ellen Addonizio are both in Area 6. Palazzo cannot run for reelection in November because Addonizio occupies Area 6, which now extends south into San Juan Capistrano.

Children First (read union) stated their primary goal was removing Palazzo from the board and they divided up cities to make it happen. (See the email below.)

When Addonizio leaves in 2014, the trustee representing Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo could be from SJC, so the city of Mission Viejo, with a population of nearly 100,000, will have no representative for its high school, CVHS.

Map J splits Mission Viejo in two, with Trustee Lynn Hatton covering the northern area and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Most of Mission Viejo is in Area 7, but the high school MV students attend is in Area 2.

Mission Viejo residents should ask what kind of representation they have on the CUSD board. Following the union-driven campaign in 2010 to get a majority on the board of trustees, why should anyone expect accountability except to the union? Two trustees (Anna Bryson and John Alpay) who portray themselves as conservative Republicans generally vote with others supporting the union.

Alpay (a contract attorney who also is on the Orange County Republican Central Committee) voted on a contract sight unseen. Vickie Soderberg (the teachers union president) is heard to be retiring, and Alpay voted to give her (along with certificated, non-management staff) an early retirement bonus without the staff presenting any data and with no contract to view. Addonizio had to drag the cost of this program out of the CUSD staff. The cost of the retirement bonus program is $2 million a year for five years – a total of $10 million. The board action gave administration the right to authorize the contract. Addonizio asked to see the contract, and she was told “it is just like any other contract and it would come back to the board later.”

Following is an email from Chris Corpi/Children's First (read union). Read what he says about removing Trustee Palazzo. (This is political payback, and Trustees Anna Bryson and John Alpay voted in favor of preventing a conservative Republicans from running for reelection with their support for Map J.)

From: chriskorpi@aim.com
Date: December 30, 2011 12:33:56 PM HST
To: chriskorpi@aol.com
Subject: Happy New Year from Chris Korpi and your team at Children First!
Greetings and Happy New Year!!
 
There is an important election finance filing deadline tomorrow. We need to show everyone in CUSD that we continue to stand in support of our teachers, the children that attend our public schools and their parents......and that we are defenders of public education. 
 
You can be certain that people will be analyzing our election finance reports to see how prepared we are to support the re-election of CUSD Trustee President Dr. Gary Pritchard and Vice President John Alpay and that we are ready to elect two new members of the board.  One of those new members will be replacing Sue Palazzo!!  Removing Palazzo is my personal New Years resolution. Will you help me in this effort?
 
Your election team is in place and our strategies are set.  As a partner in our efforts I am asking you to do two things before New Years:
 
1) Make a donation before our filing deadline by clicking on this web site: http://capounifiedchildrenfirst.org/donate.php Any amount will help from $10 to $10,000
2) Plan to join all of your friends at Cosmos Italian Kitchen on Thursday night January 12th.  Cosmos is located at: 23411 Aliso Viejo Pkwy # A Aliso Viejo, CA 92656949) 448-9040.  The times for the social is from 5:30 - 8:30 and the $20 charge includes light food and one drink with all of the proceeds going to the election and Children First.
 
I look forward to seeing all of you at Cosmos on the 12th and working with you in the upcoming election.

Have a safe and awesome New Years!
 
Your friend

Chris

Following is a reminder of who started the “Parents for Local Control,” which became Children First. They like to say that the union isn’t involved. Below are the proponents who signed the first document to recall conservative Trustees Ken Maddox and Mike Winsten.

It is understood that Chris Corpi is the domestic partner or in a relationship with a SCHS counselor

From the Proponents who signed the First Notice to Recall

Kevin Murphy
Frank Thomas- Larkin. His wife Gayle retired CUSD (25 years in district as of 1999)
Lucille McCann, retired, her husband was a teacher for 12 years at Santa Ana College
Edwin Neely, retired Bergeson Principal 
Ron Dempsey, retired CUSD administrator 
Mary Ellen Storm
Pete Espinosa- former CUSD trustee, Capistrano Children's First spokesman, Saddleback College teacher
Richard Broberg- CUEA Grievance committee member
James R Sigafoos –his son is a former teacher at Tesoro. Wife Kathleen teaches at SCHS 
Robert Benson

Second notice to recall proponents

Truman Benedict -  retired educator who moved to San Clemente in 1949 and after whom the elementary school is named, Benedict has played an integral role in establishing and building San Clemente’s schools.
Pete Epinosa -  former CUSD trustee, Capistrano Children First spokesman, Saddleback College teacher
James Sigafoos- married to a SCHS teacher
Peter H. Ditto - educator
John Alpay- Republican now on the GOP Central Committee; supports union as a CUSD trustee
Gail Benda- retired CUSD teacher 
Judy Heidel
Susan M. Goggins
Thomas E. Coffin
Michael J. Merrifield, (age 64) Saddleback College teacher, South OC Community College Faculty Association vice president

CUSD Update

Oxford Preparatory Academy has been approved to grow to 772 students next year. On Feb. 25, the Capo district board of trustees voted to expand Oxford on the campus it shares with Barcelona Hills Elementary School. The board voted 6-1 (Lynn Hatton dissenting) to allow the expansion. In a separate vote, trustees unanimously supported giving Oxford all but two classrooms. Barcelona will close.

The meeting drew a large crowd, with standing room only in the board room. An adjacent spillover room filled as the meeting began, and others stood outside the board room.

CUSD is obligated by Prop 39 to provide classrooms for Oxford as a charter school. As additional factors, Oxford has a waiting list and Barcelona’s enrollment is declining. Having the two schools share a campus caused friction between the groups, leading to the trustees’ approval last month of up to $20,000 for a mediator.

On another agenda item, trustees approved Map J with a 4-3 vote (Ellen Addonizio, Sue Palazzo and Lynn Hatton dissenting). Map J is the tenth version in redrawing of trustee areas. The board majority’s direction in drawing Map J was supposed to avoid cutting across city boundaries.

Map J not only failed to keep cities intact (Mission Viejo will have two trustee areas), it put high schools and middle schools of some cities into different trustee areas. A political impact of Map J is the elimination of one of the minority trustees by putting Sue Palazzo and Ellen Addonizio in the same area. The teachers union had been targeting Palazzo as a reform trustee who would have been up for reelection in November 2012.

In the 2010 General Election, a union-driven campaign convinced voters to vote against voting. CUSD constituents voted on all seven trustees prior to the last election. In November 2010, voters passed Measure H, which allows them to vote only on the trustee who represents the area in which they reside.

Non-government Events

Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups.

First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach, Thurs., Feb. 2, includes an informal artist talk at the Laguna Art Museum at 7:00 p.m., 307 Cliff Drive at North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971, http://lagunaartmuseum.org

Mission Basilica School Open House, Fri., Feb. 3, 10:00 a.m. – noon, 31641 El Camino Real. San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1385, ext. 2, http://www.missionbasilicaschool.org

Laguna Art Museum, “California Artists: Late Nineteenth to Early Twentieth Century,” upstairs gallery, through Feb. 3, open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and first Thursday of each month from 11 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 307 Cliff Drive at North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971, http://lagunaartmuseum.org

Mount of Olives Church, “Share – Food Collection,” first Sunday of each month. On Sun., Feb. 5, bring non-perishable food donations and place them in marked bins around campus, collecting for South County Outreach and Southwest Community Center, Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.info@moochurch.com

Laguna Beach Music Festival, Feb. 6-12, a week-long event presented by Laguna Beach Live and The Philharmonic Society of Orange County, 949-715-9713, http://lagunabeachmusicfestival.com

Tokyo String Quartet, Soka Performing Arts Center, Thurs., Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.soka.edu/news_events/events/2012/02/tokyo-string-quartet.aspx

Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at
http://www.moviefone.com/theater/edwards-kaleidoscope-stadium-10/32/showtimes

Remodeling Design Workshop, Sat., Feb. 11, 9:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Foothill Ranch, 27082 Towne Centre Drive, Foothill Ranch, (949) 861-3400, http://www.seapointe.com/about-sea-pointe/design-workshops

“Create a Native Container Valentine Workshop,” on Sat., Feb. 11, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Tree of Life Nursery, 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 728-0685, http://www.californianativeplants.com

Annual Taste of San Juan, Wed., Feb. 15, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., San Juan Hills Country Club, (949) 493-4700, http://www.swallowsparade.com/taste.aspx

Political and Government Events Calendar

El Toro Water District meetings: Community Advisory Committee Meeting on Thurs., Feb. 2, 11:30 a.m.; Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., Feb. 21, 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Feb. 23, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com

Concert at the Nixon Library, Sun., Feb. 5, featuring chamber music by the USC Music School. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., and concerts begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Concerts are free and open to the public. Schedule is subject to change. Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org

Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tuesdays, Feb. 7 and Feb. 28, 9:30 a.m. No meetings on Jan. 31, Feb. 14 or Feb. 21.) Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://www.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors

Santa Margarita Water District Engineering Committee Meeting on Fri., Feb. 10, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee Meeting on Fri., Feb. 17, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors , Wed., Feb. 22, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com/about-us/meeting-agendas.html

Rush Limbaugh Club of OC, Sat., Feb. 11, breakfast meeting 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Program to be announced. Casta Del Sol Golf Club, 27601 Casta Del Sol Road, Mission Viejo. RSVP to Bruce Brown, (949) 487-5288 or limbaughcluboc@aol.com. http://www.rushlimbaughcluboc.com

Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., Feb. 13, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., Feb. 15, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, Mon., Feb. 13, 7:00 p.m., 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com

ACT for America, Mon., Feb. 13; the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. Featured speaker will be Karen Lugo. The meeting will be held at the Norman Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, Tues., Feb. 14. The board workshop on board policies will begin at 4:30 p.m., open to the public. The regular board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the district office, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us

Saddleback Republican Assembly meets on Thurs., Feb. 16, 7:00 p.m., featuring guest speaker James E. Rogan, who is a judge of the Superior Court of California, a law professor, an author and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. SRA meets on third Thursdays at the Norman P. Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 360-1717.

Nixon Library: Celebrate Presidents Day on Mon., Feb. 20. Free admission all day, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Special presentation on America’s presidents at 1:30 p.m. Free cherry pie for the first 100 guests. Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org/

Aliso Viejo Republican Women Federated, Thurs., Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., program to be announced, Aliso Viejo Conference Center, 31 Santa Barbara Drive, Aliso Viejo, RSVP to (949) 859-2818.

South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, Mon., Feb. 27. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5 p.m.., followed by adjournment to closed session, open session reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., adjournment by 9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room, Room 145, Health Sciences/District Offices Building, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4999, https://www.socccd.edu

The Buzz

During the Jan. 25 council meeting, Councilman Frank Ury blurted out a comment, either without thinking or as an attempt to disguise his record. He claimed to be part of a “first” effort in the city to end redevelopment. Watchdogs have for years said redevelopment should end, but residents have never had a majority of representatives on the council who wanted to end it. The council majority, including Ury, attempted to preserve redevelopment, even after the state took steps last year to end it. As a defining moment, Ury was in the 4-1 majority in 2011 to continue redevelopment in Mission Viejo under its new name, the Mission Viejo Housing Authority. Only Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht voted against it.

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The Jan. 27 Saddleback Valley News, page 21, published notice of a public hearing on Feb. 6. From the notice: “The City of Mission Viejo City Council will conduct a public hearing for the purpose of considering a proposed Ordinance designating Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the City of Mission Viejo as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The proposed Ordinance will impact several areas along the City’s eastern boundary, and areas northerly of the Foothill Transportation Corridor (SR 241) and in vicinity of El Toro Road.” Residents have two weeks’ notice to determine the impact on private property owners and/or ask what circumstance called for a public hearing at this time.

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Remember the slogan “It’s the economy, stupid,” used by Bill Clinton in 1992? Political strategist James Carville coined the phrase for Clinton’s presidential campaign. The slogan could rise again in 2012 to highlight Barack Obama’s dismal economic record. Congressman Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is adding another slogan, “It’s the Senate, stupid.” As part of DeMint’s leadership in the Senate Conservatives Fund, he is emphasizing four key races in the 2012 elections: Josh Mandel in Ohio, Ted Cruz in Texas, Don Stenberg in Nebraska, and Mark Neumann in Wisconsin. http://senateconservatives.com

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From OC Supervisor Shawn Nelson’s Jan. 27 newsletter, BOS Chair John Moorlach presented the State of the County. It’s not rosy: “Among the many important issues and challenges facing the County this year are the ongoing pension liabilities, continued slumping property values, the taxes on which the general fund is dependent, and Proposition 172 sales tax revenue. The County also faces multiple interactions with the State, including realignment to the local governments, especially in public safety, the statewide dissolution of redevelopment agencies and the vehicle license fee (VLF) takeaway. Moorlach’s presentation can be found at
http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy4/newsletters/pdfs/Vol3Issue2/State%20of%20the%20County%202012.pdf

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Karen England, executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute, sent an announcement last week regarding the Initiative to Repeal SB 48 after a referendum failed to stop its blatant historical revisionism and political agenda. England says, “As you know we are about to launch the statewide task of gathering over 700,000 signatures to qualify an initiative that will deal with SB 48. After coming just short of the signatures necessary to qualify for a referendum, the coalition of organizations committed to stopping SB 48 sensed the public was not finished with this issue and, given more time, we could effectively stop this damaging legislation. The initiative is called the CLASS Act to Repeal SB 48.

CLASS Act is designed to repeal the following three elements of SB 48.

1. SB 48 mandated the positive inclusion of history lessons on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other minority figures.
2. SB 48 also prohibited any lessons that "reflect adversely" on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other minority figures.
3. New social science textbooks must be purchased to include these new mandates.

SB 48 requires schools to teach positive lessons about multi-sexual lifestyles and bans them from saying anything negative, even if there were truly negative historical facts about these same groups. Various "historical figures" would be included based only upon their sexual orientation rather than focusing on their actual historical contributions to society.

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