Old Guard Bloopers
Disgraced Marlene Draper spouted utter contempt for the voters she represented
Sep 09, 2008
The OC Register published this excerpt from a report by the OC District Attorney, dated September 2, 2008. Draper's statement was quoted from a February 25th closed session board meeting to discuss a permanent employment contract for Superintendent Carter. Draper's comment was in response to reform trustees Ellen Addonizio, Anna Bryson and Larry Christensen, who argued that a proposed $58,000-a-year raise was too high in light of the district's pending fiscal crisis. Their point was that such excesses were not in the best interests of the "them" in question...the constituents of CUSD. The District Attorney took issue with Draper's insulting, wrong-headed remark, concluding the report by mocking Draper with the obvious truth: "It is all about them."
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CUSD Recall Committee Calls for Repudiation of Illegal Secret Superintendent’s Contract
May 27, 2008
Committee Also Calls for Public Censure of Superintendent and Board President
Board President Mike Darnold and Superintendent Woodrow Carter signed illegal secret contract
See CUSD Recall Committee’s formal complaint letter.
See CUSD Recall Committee press release.
See illegal secret superintendent's contract.
See Government Code section misrepresented by superintendent.
See OC Register cartoon that mocks Carter's secret contract.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. The CUSD Recall Committee filed a formal complaint today against Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Woodrow Carter (aka Arnold Carter) and Board President Mike Darnold for fraud, conspiracy and continuing intentional violations of the Brown Act and other applicable laws. Read More...
Emotional Mike Darnold attacks South OC voters, the Press and the ABC trustees
Mar 10, 2008
The following emotional and error-ridden speech was read by Trustee Mike Darnold at the March 10, 2008 CUSD board meeting.
Thank you Trustee Draper. I umm…I just want to make a statement that I prepared. It’s…umm…I’m gonna read it so that I don’t screw it up.
Umm…first of all, I’m not a politician. I have absolutely no political aspirations. Generally, speaking, pretty much I avoid conflict at all cost. I’m a rather, umm…I’m a rather, umm passive person who would really rather pray for my detractors than confront them.
Umm…the reason…uh…that I’m speaking today is I’ve always avoided using the…my position here on the board to air my personal thoughts, because they’re just that, they’re personal.
My position as a board member is to be of service to the constituents of Capistrano Unified. I make every effort possible to assure quality education and work for the other…with the other six board members to provide the vision for the future. And that’s what we’re tasked to do.
However, the time has come for me to stand up publicly for what I believe to be true. Read More...
Draper plans to oppose the recall
Mar 10, 2008
This speech by Marlene Draper at the March 10, 2008 CUSD board meeting reveals she is in complete denial of the problems facing CUSD.
By Trustee Marlene Draper
Mr. Darnold, would you mind allowing me to respond.
Umm…the campaign I plan to…to perform, is to reach out to the parents of our district, the parents of the children in the wonderful schools, to vote against the recall.
I am not planning on seeking re-election in…in November, but I think it is incumbent to remember that good, solid leadership is important in this district.
And it is a tragedy that right now the recall occurs at a time, and at a cost that equates to about ten teachers and ten classrooms, 766,000 dollars, which I think is a tragedy.
Thank you. Read More...
Benecke admits to gross incompetence. "As you know, I do not read my packet..."
Jan 21, 2008
"As you know, I do not read my packet..."
Parents expect their children to do their homework -- don't they expect at least that much out of their elected officials?
Read Benecke's fax memo here Read More...
Mean-spirited CUSD hijinks reveals corrupt mindset of CUSD old guard and their contempt for CUSD constituents
Jan 15, 2008
Hennes: "Jim, I just had to share the poetry that Bruce wrote following last night's meeting."
Fleming: "Shelia, Phenominal! What a talent. JF"
Left: James Fleming; Right: Shelia Henness
If you took offense at being called “jackasses” and being told to “slither” to the podium by Trustee Shelia Benecke, you haven’t heard anything yet.
Just read the following poem by Bruce Henness, husband of former Trustee Shelia Henness, who takes mean-spirited contempt for CUSD constituents to new heights. The accompanying fax cover reveals that Shelia Henness agreed with her husband and couldn’t wait to share his disgusting “masterpiece” with then Superintendent James Fleming, who praised the disgraceful poem as “Phenominal!” and Henness’ husband as “a talent.” For insight into the corrupt and hateful mindset of the CUSD old-guard that made the infamous CUSD enemies lists and other forms of retaliation possible, read the soon-to-be infamous Henness poem, below, and the original fax memo, here: Read More...
OC Register editorial calls for Fleming-era trustees to resign
Oct 29, 2007
Clouds lifting at CUSD, Board accepts that it
violated open-meeting law
Editorial, The Orange County Register The Capistrano Unified School Board’s 4-0 decision last week to accept the Orange County district attorney’s findings that the board had repeatedly violated the state’s open meetings law was perhaps the most sensible decision the board has made in quite a long time. The three newest board members – Anna Bryson, Ellen Addonizio and Larry Christensen – rightly abstained from the vote, given that they had nothing to do with the legal violations of the past board. Read More...
Editorial, The Orange County Register The Capistrano Unified School Board’s 4-0 decision last week to accept the Orange County district attorney’s findings that the board had repeatedly violated the state’s open meetings law was perhaps the most sensible decision the board has made in quite a long time. The three newest board members – Anna Bryson, Ellen Addonizio and Larry Christensen – rightly abstained from the vote, given that they had nothing to do with the legal violations of the past board. Read More...
Trustee Stiff admits the Fleming-era trustees knowingly violated the law!
Oct 14, 2007
• It's "case closed" for Benecke, Draper and Darnold.
• The evidence is in and it is time for them to resign.
The October 9th DA report states that the Fleming-era trustees will not be prosecuted criminally for violations of the Brown Act for want of evidence of their intent to violate the law. Ignoring the utter shame of the findings of wrongdoing in this scathing report, Benecke, Draper and Darnold are attempting one last desperate spin, claiming that they didn’t know what they were doing was wrong, that they relied upon bad advice from counsel.
Well, the facts contradict this disingenuous argument and, now, there is direct evidence from one of their own that they intended to violate the law. Read More...
Opening statement by Board President Sheila Benecke at the June 4th meeting of the CUSD Board of Trustees
Jun 04, 2007
