Arrogance
Disgraced Marlene Draper spouted utter contempt for the voters she represented
Sep 09, 2008 Filed in: Draper,
Marlene
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."
OC Register's Mickadeit reveals slimey way Fleming trustees avoided a well-deserved criminal prosecution
Oct 22, 2007 Filed in: Mickadeit,
Frank
Mickadeit is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
OC Register columnist emphasizes absurdity of trustee Draper's defense to repeated Brown Act violations
Oct 22, 2007 Filed in: Mickadeit,
Frank
Mickadeit is a columnist for The Orange County Register.
Superintendent Fleming on portables
May 18, 1998 Filed in: Fleming,
James
Fleming is the Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District.
Grand Jury condemns CUSD's attempts to cover up express advocacy under the guise of "informational" activity
Feb 01, 1991 Filed in: OC Grand
Jury
1990-1991 Orange County Grand Jury,
Examination of CUSD Mello-Roos
Election
“In the opinion of the Grand Jury, it would appear that the District is far from inexperienced in conducting political campaigns and, in fact, the District’s behavior in this case shows a carefully planned and often secretive effort to push the law to the limit. Moreover, the District did not willingly file its reports when notified of the obligation. It did so under protest. Finally, the fact that the District attempted to conceal its advocacy under the guise of “informational” activity, evidences a more sophisticated approach than just an innocent mistake.”
“In the opinion of the Grand Jury, it would appear that the District is far from inexperienced in conducting political campaigns and, in fact, the District’s behavior in this case shows a carefully planned and often secretive effort to push the law to the limit. Moreover, the District did not willingly file its reports when notified of the obligation. It did so under protest. Finally, the fact that the District attempted to conceal its advocacy under the guise of “informational” activity, evidences a more sophisticated approach than just an innocent mistake.”
Fleming criticized as a name-dropper, bureaucrat, too self-promoting
Dec 02, 1999 Filed in: Webster,
Terry
Terry Webster, The Las Vegas
Sun "The strengths and
weaknesses of all of the candidates were aired
during public interviews held by the School Board
and the Superintendent Search Process Committee.
Following his interviews, some of the criticisms
made of Fleming were that he was a name-dropper
and a bureaucrat. Some also said he was too
self-promoting. But Fleming said he sees nothing
wrong with demonstrating he can do the job."
Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.
Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.
Sheila Benecke's arrogant, caustic tongue dishonors CUSD again, demonstrating she is unworthy to serve
Jun 05, 2007 Filed in: Benecke,
Sheila
Benecke made these caustic remarks at the June 4, 2007 Borad meeting. Such lack of decorum proved that Benecke, the Queen of Mean, was the real jackass, and after spewing such venom from the dais, Benecke left no doubt who the real snake was. Volzke is the publisher of The Capistrano Dispath.
RSM mayor recalls surreal experience as Fleming-era trustees praised Fleming on the very day the DA raided his offices
May 25, 2007 Filed in: Beall, Tony
Beall was the last public speaker to address the Board of Trustees and Fleming at Fleming's final board meeting last summer. Just hours before, district attorney's investigators raided Fleming's office and took computers and files. Beall urged the board not to let Fleming leave with a sweet retirement package. Beall asked the board to terminate Fleming and, in the short term, put him on administrative leave. Beall is the mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita and a recall leader.
Fleming dodges real issues in pathetic attempt to take the moral high ground
May 26, 2007 Filed in: Fleming,
James
Fleming lists achievements during his tenure, such as building campuses and winning National Blue Ribbons for high-achieving schools, and says a district-commissioned [Judge Waldrip] investigation found no laws had been broken. That report criticized Fleming for actions that were “ill-advised and imprudent.” Hey, earth to Jimbo! Those decisions may have ticked people off, but those aren't the decisions you're being prosecuted for. Just think for a minute. Could it be the years of lies, deceit, retaliation, defamation and other abuses that have finally caught up with you? It was not your "responsibility" to cross every ethical and legal line possible. And as for the district-commissioned Waldrip report, it was only a matter of time before this made-to-order whitewash would be raised as a defense. Fortunately, the District Attorney looked into the same matters, and guess what? He saw at things a little differently.
Stiff rebuffs calls for his resignation, taunts reformers and reveals his arrogant, Fleming-era roots
May 26, 2007 Filed in: Stiff,
Duane
We have a better idea. Do the honorable thing - resign now and save everyone, including the children, the trouble. But given Stiff's out-of-touch track record, his repeated failure to act in the interests of constituents and his willingness to join Benecke, Draper and Darnold in cover ups, it's surprising he woke up long enough to suggest the next best thing. Stiff is one of the four Fleming-era holdover trustees.
Newcomer Smith characterizes some critics of district facilities as people who "scream and yell and throw a tantrum"
May 06, 2007 Filed in: Smith,
Dennis
Smith is the Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District.
Columnist misinterprets reasons behind recent lull in activity by district critics
Apr 27, 2007 Filed in: Stroud,
Keith
Stroud is a former high school principal and an author and a columnist for The Capistrano Dispatch.
Condescending and disrespectful, CUSD says “Trust us, we are telling the truth, this time.”
Dec 14, 2006 Filed in: Goodwin,
Dwaine
Dwaine Goodwin, The Capistrano
Dispatch “To the citizens of
San Juan Capistrano from the Trustees and
Superintendent of C.U.S.D. “Trust us, we are
telling the truth, this time.” This is almost like
a Shakespearean comedy, if it was not so very
serious and involves so very much money. How so
few people can cause so much angst among a
community is frightening. We elect these people
with a knowing trust only to be deceived and lied
to until such time as the truth is unavoidable.
Then they tell us to “move on.” How condescending
and disrespectful can they become? Really bad
choices on our part.”
Goodwin is a San Juan Capistrano resident.
Goodwin is a San Juan Capistrano resident.
Fleming trustees in denial, refuse to take responsibility for CUSD misdeeds, attack critics instead
Dec 10, 2006 Filed in: Goff, Brad
Brad Goff, The Orange County
Register “To date, no one in
the administration and not a single CUSD board
member has taken personal responsibility for any
of the district’s past wrongdoings. To the
contrary, the last two board meetings (since the
election) have seen trustees go on tirades against
the recall folks, the teacher’s union president
and the Orange County Register writer who reported
on many of the misdeeds.”
Goff is the Chairman of Citizens for a Safe Rancho Santa Margarita, a local citizen action group.
Goff is the Chairman of Citizens for a Safe Rancho Santa Margarita, a local citizen action group.
Smollar "disgruntled" due to lies - Fleming, Draper and others to blame for taking focus off teaching and learning
Aug 10, 2006 Filed in: Smollar,
David
David Smollar, The Capistrano
Dispatch "Yes,
Erin Kutnick, I grew most unhappy as I learned of
the lies, hype and exaggeration from the top.
Anyone with a moral compass would be disgusted,
and there are many in the district silently
relieved at the end of the Fleming regime. For the
record, I resigned, and Fleming then gave me a
letter offering to “be of assistance in my future
endeavors.” So much for your little innuendo
hinting at something else. I’m sure Fleming would
love now to say he fired me, but that’s one lie,
if told, that would definitely have legal
consequences for him. And yes, it’s sad that the
community’s focus has been taken off teaching and
learning, but the blame lies squarely at the feet
of Fleming, Draper and the gang with their
arrogance of power."
Kutnick is a columnist for The Capistrano Dispatch. Smollar is the former Director of Communications at Capistrano Unified School District.
Kutnick is a columnist for The Capistrano Dispatch. Smollar is the former Director of Communications at Capistrano Unified School District.
Critics right, district admits lies about admin building funding but says "move on" with no accountability
Dec 03, 2006 Filed in: OC Register
Racial gerrymandering another symptom of arrogant CUSD leadership
Sep 04, 2006 Filed in: OC Register
Common thread of CUSD scandals - arrogance of power
Aug 21, 2006 Filed in: OC Register
CUSD a poster child to warn other districts as its culture of corruption unravels
Aug 21, 2006 Filed in: OC Register
Reader disgusted with community dissention caused by, and lack of accountability at, CUSD
Dec 14, 2006 Filed in: Goodwin,
Dwaine
Dwaine Goodwin, The Capistrano
Dispatch "How so few people can
cause so much angst among a community is
frightening. We elect these people with a knowing
trust only to be deceived and lied to until such
time as the truth is unavoidable. Then they tell
us to 'move on.' How condescending and
disrespectful can they become?"
A CUSD resident expresses disgust over the district's refusal to assign blame or demand personal accountability for admitted lies to the public about the funding sources of the new administration building.
A CUSD resident expresses disgust over the district's refusal to assign blame or demand personal accountability for admitted lies to the public about the funding sources of the new administration building.
No improvement at CUSD possible until those responsible are held accountable
Dec 10, 2006 Filed in: Goff, Brad
Brad Goff, The Orange County
Register "The fact that not a
single board member has taken any responsibility
whatsoever for any of the mess that the district
currently finds itself in indicates to me that
they probably haven’t learned anything. In fact,
they appear to be in complete denial..."
Mr. Goff shares the belief of many of his fellow district residents that nothing is likely to change at CUSD until those responsible for the district's past wrongdoings are held accountable by their removal from elected offices or administrative positions at CUSD.
Mr. Goff shares the belief of many of his fellow district residents that nothing is likely to change at CUSD until those responsible for the district's past wrongdoings are held accountable by their removal from elected offices or administrative positions at CUSD.
Doomey admits public was misled, but takes no responsibility as public is told to "move on"
Nov 30, 2006 Filed in: Doomey,
David
Associate Superintendent Doomey was finally forced to admit that the district had lied about the funding sources for the new administration building, but he continued to stonewall parents who wanted explanations for this deceitful conduct, avoiding all blame or accountability and, in essence, expecting offended constituents, who had been deceived about the spending of tens of millions of tax dolars, to simply "trust" him and the district ... again.