Casserly, Barbara

PTA leader calls Waldrip investigation a "taxpayer funded cover-up"

Barbara Casserly, The Capistrano Dispatch "This “independent” investigation was conducted by the law firm that defends the district. The firm retained retired Judge Waldrip who spent five months on a report that contains important documents and but draws weak conclusions. This was not an impartial investigation because Judge Waldrip once worked for that firm. CUSD must stop hiding behind lawyers and using scarce funds for outrageous legal fees and taxpayer funded cover-up investigations."

Casserly is a Mission Viejo resident and PTA leader.

Trustees Draper, Benecke, Darnold and Stiff knew about enemies list and "mole"

Barbara Casserly, The Capistrano Dispatch "CUSD Trustees knew that Jim Fleming was actively involved in fighting the recall and voted to fund an investigation into matters which they knew to have occurred that cost taxpayers over $35,000! ... included in the [Waldrip] report is an April 21, 2005 memo written by James Fleming addressed to Marlene Draper and the entire CUSD Board entitled the “Report on presumed recall effort” that referred to the parent list, and included a report from a “mole” that infiltrated the recall group. The Trustees continued to support Jim Fleming until he retired in disgrace in August 2006, and subsequently voted to pay Fleming’s criminal legal defense fees. Trustees Draper, Benecke, Darnold and Stiff refuse to acknowledge that they knew Jim Fleming was illegally fighting the recall. The self-serving “independent” investigation concluded that the only crime that might have occurred was the leaking of documents by Smollar!"

Casserly is a Mission Viejo resident and PTA leader.

Fleming and Trustees knew or should have known Mello-Roos taxes were used for new admin building

Barbara Casserly, The Capistrano Dispatch “I had requested an accounting of 87-1 Mello Roos funds in April 2004 via a legally binding California Public Record request which resulted in 29 four inch volumes being provided to search for answers. That led to a meeting in June 2004 with Dave Doomey, Assistant Superintendent where answers were still not provided. On Sept 21, 2006 Sherry Hahn CUSD CFO said she had been instructed by Mr. McCully to provide the requested information. Two and one half years after I first asked a question I learned that $20 million dollars from the 87-1 fund had always been allocated to a new administration building. The Trustees all knew, or should have known that a portion of Mission Viejo/Aliso Viejo 87-1 Mello Roos was designated in 1990 to pay for a district office building. In 2004 the Fleming Administration was unwilling to admit that to the public.”

Casserly is a Mission Viejo resident and PTA leader.

Trustees owe public an explanation for the lies they told or condoned

Barbara Casserly, The Capistrano Dispatch “Now is the time for the CUSD Trustees to explain to the public why they lied, or allowed lies to be promulgated repeatedly by Jim Fleming. Time after time, publication after publication, the public was informed that the funds for the administration building were restricted to bricks and mortar in San Juan Capistrano. Prominent members of the public continue to believe that every dime for the new administration building could only be used for an administration building in San Juan Capistrano.”

Casserly is a Mission Viejo resident and PTA leader.

Fleming Trustees should be ashamed, owe public an apology

Barbara Casserly, The Capistrano Dispatch “The current CUSD Trustees who allowed that environment to exist need to be voted out of elected office because they were responsible for the management of an out of control superintendent, Jim Fleming. The Trustees should be ashamed for what they allowed to occur during the Fleming administration. The public deserves an apology.”

Casserly is a Mission Viejo resident and PTA leader.

Fleming trustees cannot be trusted, new leaders needed to save district from mess they created

Barbara Casserly, The Capistrano Dispatch “As Friedrich Nietzsche said 'I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you' ... It will take new leadership to restore credibility in CUSD and lead this district out of this embarrassing mess.”

Casserly is a Mission Viejo resident and PTA leader.

PTA parent was loyal to Fleming until investigated and threatened

Barbara Casserly, The Capistrano Dispatch "I was a loyal supporter of Dr. Fleming and the Trustees until I was investigated and threatened that if I continued to ask questions, future funding might not come to Mission Viejo. I am ashamed that I did not make my concerns public because of fear of retaliation."

PTA member recounts heavy-handed tactics leveled against her by former Superintendent Fleming and the Trustees.