Beyond the Blackboard

Community Stepped Up for Capistrano Unified Schools

This is from Capistrano Unified School District ...

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTED  

$3 MILLION TO CUSD SCHOOLS



Foundations, PTAs Donated Time, Money to Support Students



SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO-Community members, businesses, and local organizations contributed more than $3 million and 490,000 volunteer hours in support of students in the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) during the 2010-2011 school year.

The total raised came from a variety of sources, with the various Parent Teacher Association units contributing $2,381,650. The District's reported donations totaled $3,088,179.29.

"I want to thank the entire Capistrano Unified School District community for its generous contributions," Board President Jack R. Brick said. "Only with the support of our entire community can we ensure the continued success of our students."

The most popular items supported by donations include outdoor science camp, primary music programs, computer purchases, art programs, classroom supplies, and field trips. Other gifts helped schools provide librarians, instructional aides and classroom technology to help teachers enhance instruction.

Money wasn't the only resource contributed by District supporters. PTA members alone volunteered 490,685 hours to the schools.

"The support this District receives is a testament to the value this community places on the education of its children and indicates the level of support our schools have. These contributions have ensured a well-rounded education with visual and performing arts, athletics, extracurricular activities, and academic enrichment both during and after the school day," Superintendent Joe Farley said. "The additional resources definitely provide our students with an added advantage as they prepare for competition in a global marketplace."

The largest donor to CUSD schools was the Ladera Ranch Education Foundation, which raised $240,822.68 for schools in the Ladera Ranch community. Those funds supported programs at Chaparral Elementary School, Ladera Ranch Elementary School, Oso Grande Elementary School, Ladera Ranch Middle School, Tesoro High School, and San Juan Hills High School.

Las Palmas Elementary School in San Clemente received $241,873.24 in donations, the most received by any single school. The Leonard Foundation donated the bulk of the funds with a $225,000 grant, the largest single donation, which helped the school provide intervention programs for students who need additional academic assistance as well as enrichment programs such as music and art.

The 'Mason of Capistrano Unified's' Rebuilding...

Our story on Dr. Farley's first full year ... Anyone have any other thoughts?

From The Capistrano Dispatch, San Clemente Times and Dana Point Times

Superintendent Joe Farley’s first year seen as success

When Dr. Joseph Farley was hired to lead the Capistrano Unified School District, he was the seventh superintendent for the 52,000-student district in just four years.

That was a year ago. Now, by all accounts, the revolving door on the Superintendent’s Office at Capistrano Unified School District has not only been locked down, it’s been torn out.

Board meetings that once drew sheriff’s deputies as they degenerated into shouting matches have been replaced by cordial, professional sessions. In the past, crowds were so numerous school officials would only let in new attendees as others left, like a trendy nightclub, to comply with fire codes. Now, meetings are sparsely attended by PTA officials and those concerned with a particular issue.

In a district dominated by politics for years, another focus has emerged: On students and learning. And many are quick to give Farley much of the credit.

“Our recent past has not always been quite so smooth,” Tom Ressler, principal of San Juan Hills High School, told trustees in June. “This year it has been a really exciting time on our campus … because of this man who sits before us, Dr. Farley, weve actually been tasked with dealing with students and dealing with learning and dealing with teaching strategies…

“It’s been a very, very good year and we’re appreciative of Dr. Farley and the board for that.”

Here's the full story.

CUSD's Bryson Lands Republican Appointment

This in my mailbox:

CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY  [see attachment for signed letter on CRP letterhead]

 July 11, 2011

Dear Anna:

I am very pleased to inform you that I have appointed you as a member of the Executive Committee of the California Republican Party. The Executive Committee of the California Republican Party is one of our most important committees because the committee is sometimes empowered to conduct the business of the CRP.

 

Traditionally, the committee meets, on a Friday, at our twice yearly conventions. Also, it is necessary from time to time to call a special session of the committee. I hope you will accept this appointment and will be available to attend all our meetings and conventions.  Your appointment is based on your past involvements and loyalty to our party.

Our next convention is scheduled for September 16th - 18, 2011 at the JW Marriott/LA Live in Los Angeles. This is an exciting new venue in downtown Los Angeles and we anticipate an exciting and informative weekend for all who attend. If you cannot serve or attend the meetings please let me know right away because many others have expressed a desire to serve on the committee.

If you have any suggestions about programs or features that would make our conventions even more successful, I would love to hear them.  Please feel free to email those suggestions to our special convention email address.

That email is [email protected].

I look forward to seeing you at the convention and I appreciate all the efforts and hard work you have contributed through the years to our party.

                              Yours truly,

                              Tom Del Beccaro  Chairman

***

Bryson, of course, at on the Orange County Republican Central Committee when first elected to the Capistrano Unified School District board of trustees, but lost that post in the last election.

And here's either a case of really burying the lede or rewarding those who stuck with this post to the end: Word is she's running for Assembly in 2014.

 

Capo Valley High Principal Announced

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO—Capistrano Unified School District Trustees on Wednesday afternoon named Kevin E. Astor, Ed.D. as principal of Capistrano Valley High School (CVHS).

“We are excited to have Kevin join the administrative team,” Superintendent Joe Farley said. “His commitment to academic excellence and a well-rounded school culture will ensure the continued success of each and every student at Capistrano Valley High School.”

Astor replaces interim principal Cheryl Baughn, a retired administrator who filled the position when Deni Christensen became Executive Director of Secondary Education.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity,” Astor said. “Every step of the process kept confirming that this was a great chance for me to be a part of what is happening in Capistrano Unified. The District has a long history of success. Now it is taking another step forward and growing in a dynamic way. I want to be a part of that process to meet the needs of our students.”

CVHS, home to one of the District’s two high school International Baccalaureate programs, was recently ranked No. 459 in the annual list of America’s Best High Schools by Newsweek magazine. The school can also boast one of the state’s top marching bands, with four state titles since 2002, a six-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and a highly respected athletic program.

Astor began his career teaching Spanish at the middle school level in 1993. He became an assistant principal in 1999 and a principal in 2006. Astor has bachelor’s degrees in Hispanic Language and Literature and Modern Foreign Language Education from Boston University, a master’s degree in Education Administration from United States International University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.

***

The district didn't announce his previous campus, but Astor was principal at a middle school in Anaheim Union, the district where Superintendent Joe Farley worked before moving to Capistrano Unified, and where the new prinicpal for Dana Hills was found ...

Sort of Like Capistrano Unified School District's Version of Where's Waldo...

But it's "Where's Ellen?" Trustee Addonizio's photo is still not posted at CUSD headquarters.
Certainly not a requirement, but it might be a nice thing for the constituents.
I've never been at a school board or City Hall where one member didn't want their photo up.
Ah, well.
Note to district leaders: When the boundaries are redrawn, it would be nice for the wall to have a little map that showed the trustee areas, so visitors could clearly identify their representative.
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