Covert Meeting

The agenda for next Monday's board meeting is online. I checked it to go over the minutes from last week's meeting, and noticed that a second attorney had been present for closed session. Anthony De Marco was the first; he's the one who was asked to hold onto the tape that included the evaluation discussion of Superintendent Carter. De Marco's firm, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, is on contract with CUSD.

But this second one, attorney Spencer Covert, isn't on contract with the district, says Julie Hatchel, chief communications officer for CUSD. It looks like Mr. Covert is based in Tustin -- a partner at Parker & Covert, which specializes in advising public agency governing boards, labor, personnel and collective bargaining. They've got a long list of school-district clients; Capo Unified isn't named among them.

I'm waiting to hear back from board president Ellen Addonizio as to why Covert was invited, who's paying him, etc. But in the meantime, and on the subject of De Marco being asked to hold that tape, I was reminded by Julie that the district is no longer obligated to tape their closed sessions, though they are continuing the practice.

Comments

[Derek Podobas]

Thank you for your work. we need to know what is going on. I like your " capogate" label. It tells it all.

[Capo First]

Keep up the good work. How fitting that the attorney's name is Covert.