A spat erupted between Capistrano Unified School District trustees on Monday, with the board majority accusing two colleagues of trying to shut down the school district.
Trustees were considering staff’s request to borrow $30 million in tax revenue anticipation notes, which have become common tools for school cash-strapped school districts. The TRANs provide money now and are repaid with the tax money provided by the state in the next fiscal year.
But Trustees Ellen Addonizio and Sue Palazzo pointed out the district already has one TRANs loan outstanding, and that this was the first time CUSD issued a TRANs that went across two fiscal years.
Addonizio wanted more of an update on the district's finances, including a special meeting, before voting on the item. Superintendent Joe Farley responded he believed district staff had well briefed trustees on the state of the district.
The trustees, reading prepared statements, also accused the other board members of getting the district into financial trouble by restoring furlough days and other cuts to teachers in 2010.
That issue has been hashed over again and again—a resident even filed an unsuccessful lawsuit to stop it—and trustees let Addonizio and Palazzo know they felt it was time to move on.
“I am offended that it is continually brought up,” Trustee Anna Bryson snapped at the pair. Ironically, Bryson was elected as an ally of the two. The other trustees also voiced their displeasure, especially when staff told the trustees refusing to act on the TRANs Monday would ultimately leave the district without cash to pay its employees and other bills.
“Why don’t you just make the motion you want—to shut down the district,” Trustee Lynne Hatton asked the pair.
Trustee Gary Pritchard added that he couldn't even wrap his head around what Addonizio and Palazzo were trying to accomplish, but labeled the effort "ludicrious."
Trustee John Alpay accused the pair of stumping for the November election, when he, Brick, Pritchard and Palazzo face re-election.
It was business czar Ron Lebs' last meeting, too. He was the one handling the issue. "You're going to miss us, aren't you," Alpay asked.
The motion to start work on the TRANs passed 4-2, with Jack Brick absent. Trustees next meet January 25.
I'll get some audio up when I can...
Palazzo's grandstanding and completely ludicrous behavoir proved to everyone that she needs to be removed. Teacher take note: she and Ellen are blaming teachers for the District's financial woes not the economy even though both Sue and Ellen voted for the contract settlements that were later implemented. Sue and Ellen read from prepared statements written for them by Tony Beall and Craig Alexander. Our fight is not over. Join the effort to remove Palazzo from office in 2012. This is no time to relax
Posted by: From a parent, voter and not a union member | January 11, 2012 at 02:35 PM
This just not seem to end! While our new board brings in new and innovative ideas for our district that RELATE to the education of our students, these two (Sue and Ellen) continue their attempts to bring the district down. In all fairness I would bet that the two ladies that speak as board members don't really come up with the words or the plan of attack. They are mouthpieces for others that continue to work against our schools. The one guy sued and spent even MORE valuable CUSD resources (e.g. money) in an attempt to force the district to NOT honor the contract with our teachers that the old board approved! It is beyond comprehension how this could ever fly but they tried. Yes, we all need to be vigilant and proactive related to the upcoming election in November.
Posted by: Another parent who is NOT a teacher | January 11, 2012 at 04:40 PM
I see this blog is going to be nothing but a forum to spread false and misleading information, you have absolutely no proof that either Beall or Craig A even discussed the issue. From what I have read and witnessed is Ellen and Sue question if a trigger had been met, and having been begging for a finding of fact.
105 million dollar loan.....bankrupt capo is no way to win re election children first
Posted by: Bad as the Fleming board | January 11, 2012 at 04:41 PM
I have a multi-year loan (called a mortgage) and borrow to ease my cash-flow situation (from American Express) and have reserves I never touch (my kids 529s) and I pay the people I hire according to the contracts I sign (because it's moral.) Does that make me bankrupt? No.
CUSD is not bankrupt either, Bad. And Ellen and Sue know all the facts. They are simply being asked to borrow money the district needs which will be paid back, so that the district can continue to educate its children and fulfill its financial obligations as the state recovers.
Even in tough times, we are better off than the morally bankrupt board of years past.
Posted by: Reality Check | January 11, 2012 at 06:55 PM
Ellen and Sue are kooks. And crooks.
Posted by: Dooney | January 11, 2012 at 07:57 PM
Bad
There is no way that Ellen or Sue can present their positions without reading from prepared remarks. Once they start being questioned they collapse since they aren't capable of making public comments without embarassing themselves. Anyone who has been around CUSD for the past few years knows that these statements are written for them. Beall maybe: who was part of $655,000 in out of court settlements Sue and Ellen supported? Jim Reardon, perhaps the craziest of them all, who also shared in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlements for an "enemies list" that was shown to be non-exisistent? Craig Alexander who convinced Sue and Ellen to sue our District for bogus reasons and then expected our kids and schools to pay his legal fees with Ellen and Sue supporting that idea?!?!?
Sue and Ellen aren't smart enough to write their own statements and they are serving their constituents poorly. Ellen will move on to the water district in 2014 perhaps but Palazzo is being FIRED this November. For you and the dozen of so others that hover over CUSD hoping for more monies to land in your pockets from lawsuits be warned that defending someone like Sue Palazzo just shows how desparate and out of touch your dirty dozen really are.
Let the checks bounce, stop paying our employees, shut off the lights, shut down the District? That is what Sue and Ellen wanted Monday night. That isn't what the voters of CUSD wanted when they voted for balance and sanity last November. Thank you Anna Bryson, John Alpay, Lynn Hatton and Gary Pritchard for putting these two out of touch crazies in their places
Posted by: From a parent, voter and not a union member | January 12, 2012 at 06:31 AM
Parent, never once did Sue or Ellen suggest to shut down the district, you are a complete liar! Listen to the tape and you will find they asked to delay in order to have further review and to put a more critical eye on the money. What is shocking is changing the amount from 25 to 30 million borrowed and not a single concern or question from the union puppet board, 105 in debt.....pathetic
Posted by: Bad as the Fleming board | January 12, 2012 at 08:49 PM
Bad
In the words of Ronald Reagan, "there you go again." There is no union puppet board. Your statements asserting that there is shows you are completely clueless in your observations or understanding of who is on the board or how they got elected. You have lost all credibility when you make false statements like that.
The need to take out a short term loan has been explained at length in the past and the issues Sue and Ellen continue to raise have been answered in detail many times. They are either trying to stall or just can't comprehend. Perhaps they do understand but their marching orders are to delay, confuse and obstruct. None of the board members, the superintendent or Lebs could even understand their logic. That includes Bryson who obviously has lost patience with both of them. Ellen and Sue spin around their own planet oblivious to the facts as they have continuously been presented to them. They don't like what they hear but that doesn't mean what they are hearing isn't the truth. They are being used as puppets by a handful of people that can't seem to grasp that there is now a strong majority on the board that are NOT union puppets and NOT Beall/Reardon puppets either. There are five trustees doing what is best for CUSD and they don't have a shallow agenda like Sue and Ellen do. Sue and Ellen's actions, if successful, would shut down the district and that was made very clear to them. Regardless they voted "no" and were in the minority again.
I spoke the truth and you are having a hard time comprehending the facts. Sue and Ellen don't like what the majority is doing and they can't even write their own speaches when trying to explain themselves. They are a total embarassment.
School districts are all using this type of bridge loan to get through to July and August. This is responsbile financing and budget management. Compare that to the former "reform" board who spent millions in needless elecdtions, attorney fees, out of court settlements to their campaign donors and more.
The voters of CUSD spoke very loudly and quite clearly last November.
Posted by: From a parent, voter and not a union member | January 12, 2012 at 09:37 PM
Parent...well put. I too think those two are trying to stall. It seems they need coaching on their responses, and the only way to buy time for that is by stalling. I've been to many board meetings, and I can't believe how often they implode when left to their own devices when responding. I think the OC Republican party needs to bow out of what should be non-partisan school district affairs. I am saying this as a Republican, who feels that the OC Republican Party, the Beall's, Riordan, Alexander definitely do not represent me...and I am tired of the circus they create.
Posted by: hkw | January 15, 2012 at 10:04 AM
You are so right hkw. This really should be non partisan that is FOR the kids. Instead we get "statements" that the hapless two willingly pass along that they can't back up because it really wasn't their opinion. Then we have the back door attempt to wreck havac using charter schools which I usually would agree with. In CUSD though, charter schools are NOT needed and OPA's use of the idea makes a mockery of their original intent.
Posted by: CUSD Parent and supporter | January 16, 2012 at 07:15 PM