- Capistrano Unified School District
-
Contents
Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) is the second largest school district in Orange County, California, the 12th largest in California and the 82nd largest in the United States. The district currently has 51,512 students [1]. The school district serves the following cities:
- Aliso Viejo
- Dana Point
- Laguna Niguel
- Mission Viejo
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- San Clemente
- San Juan Capistrano
- Coto de Caza
- Dove Canyon
- Ladera Ranch
- Las Flores
- Wagon Wheel
The CUSD administers 38 elementary schools (plus 1 closed), 10 middle schools, 6 high schools and 2 alternative education programs.
CUSD encompasses 195 square miles (510 km2) and has 40 California Distinguished Schools and 11 National Blue Ribbon Schools. The district has a graduation rate of 96.5%, much higher than California's average of 85.1%, and employees 4,432 employees, making it the largest employer in South Orange County. [2]
On October 25 and 26, 2007, every school campus in the district was closed due to the Southern California Wildfires. Smoke was severe in south Orange County making air quality dangerous for students. On Monday, October 29, 2007, every school reopened. Disaster funding covered the Average Daily Attendance fees the school would have lost due to the school closures, so the lost school days were not made up.
Controversies regarding district management have prompted two efforts to recall school board members. On February 14, 2008, it was announced that 50-75 of the district's 148 bus drivers would be laid off due to the gross mismanagement of funds by the Board of Trustees. In one instance, the board spent $38,000,000.00 on a new district office, nicknamed by some locals as the "Taj Mahal" for its apparent extravagance.[citation needed]
Board of trustees
About the Board
The Capistrano Unified School District has a seven-member Board of Trustees, with each trustee representing one of seven geographic areas within the school district. Each trustee is elected to a four-year term of office and is voted upon by the entire district. Trustees must reside in the area they represent.
Current Board of Trustees:
- Jack Brick, Area 1, President (elected 2008)
- Sue Palazzo, Area 2 (elected 2008)
- John M. Alpay, Area 3, Clerk (elected 2010)
- Anna Bryson, Area 4 (elected 2006)
- Dr. Gary Pritchard, Area 5, Vice President (elected 2010)
- Ellen Addonizio, Area 6 (elected 2006)
- Lynn Hatton, Area 7 (elected 2010)
- Larson Ishii, non-voting Student Advisor (appointed 2010)
The Board of Trustees is the policymaking body for the school district. It is charged with providing a quality educational program for students in grades kindergarten through 12 in accordance with the California Constitution, the laws of the state, adopted Board policies, and the desires of the community.
Functions of the Board
As elected officials, trustees are state officers responsible for the governance of a political subdivision of the state. The school district is independent of city and county governments, but cooperates with them.
In addition to establishing school district policies, the Board adopts an annual budget and approves all expenditures, employment decisions, curricula, textbooks, and courses of study, and makes decisions on school sites, building plans and construction contracts.
Trustees have no power to act individually in the name of the Board. Formal action can be taken only when the Board is in session with a quorum of at least half of the Trustees.
The Superintendent
From 1991 to 2006, the Superintendent was long-time District official James A. Fleming. Due to political controversy, however, he resigned at the beginning of the 2006-2007 School Year. Following his resignation, the Board appointed an interim Superintendent, A. Woodrow Carter. The Superintendent acts as Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
The administration of the school district is delegated by Trustees to a professional administrative staff headed by the Superintendent.
Carter was ultimately fired in 2009, again after political discord. He has since filed a lawsuit against the district. The district was being managed by interim Superintendent Roberta "Bobbi" Mahler. In early May 2010, the board approved the hiring of Dr. Joseph M. Farley as Superintendent for the District.
Employee Awards
2008 Classified Employees of the Year: [3]
- Jill Packard (Academic Advisor - Capistrano Valley High School)
- Patricia Effenberger (District Office Support Services)
- Colleen Lamb (Food Services - Capistrano Valley High School)
- Bob Eaten (Maintenance Specialist)
- Kathy Itzel (Instructional Support Services)
- Arnie Smith (Custodian - Vista del Mar School)
- Susie Stucky (Office Manager - Moulton Elementary School)
- Dan Cherone (Transportation Services)
2008 Teachers of the Year: [4]
- Christine Jones (Chaparral Elementary School)
- Warren Nagano (Las Flores Middle School)
- Cheryl Des Palmes (Tesoro High School)
Mission
The District's mission is as follows:
[Our mission, i]n partnership with the home and our richly diverse community, is to educate students and to assist them in realizing their full potential as responsible, productive, and contributing members of society by providing an educational environment in which students are challenged, excellence is expected and differences are valued.
Schools
Elementary schools
- Aliso Viejo
- Canyon Vista Elementary School
- Don Juan Avila Elementary School
- Foxborough Elementary School
- Oak Grove Elementary School
- Wood Canyon Elementary School
- Capistrano Beach
- Palisades Elementary School
- Coto de Caza
- Wagon Wheel Elementary School
- Dana Point
- R.H. Dana Elementary School
- R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility
- Ladera Ranch
- Chaparral Elementary School
- Ladera Ranch Elementary School
- Oso Grande Elementary School
- Laguna Niguel
- Crown Valley Elementary School
- George White Elementary School
- Hidden Hills Elementary School
- John S. Malcom Elementary School
- Laguna Niguel Elementary School
- Marian Bergeson Elementary School
- Moulton Elementary School
- Mission Viejo
- Barcelona Hills Elementary School
- Bathgate Elementary School
- Carl Hankey Elementary School
- Castille Elementary School
- Phillip Reilly Elementary School
- Viejo Elementary School
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Arroyo Vista Elementary School
- Las Flores Elementary School
- Tijeras Creek Elementary School
- San Clemente
- Clarence Lobo Elementary School
- Concordia Elementary School
- Las Palmas Elementary School
- Marblehead Elementary School
- Truman Benedict Elementary School
- Vista del Mar Elementary School
- Former Ole Hanson Elementary School (closed June 2003)
- San Juan Capistrano
- Del Obispo Elementary School
- Harold Ambuehl Elementary School
- Kinoshita Elementary School
- San Juan Elementary School
Middle schools
- Aliso Viejo
- Ladera Ranch
- Ladera Ranch Middle School (A Top 10 Middle School in Orange County and two-time California Distinguished School.)
- Laguna Niguel
- Mission Viejo
- Newhart Middle School
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Arroyo Vista Middle School
- Las Flores Middle School
- San Clemente
- Bernice Ayer Middle School
- Shorecliffs Middle School
- Vista del Mar Middle School (A Top 10 Middle School in Orange County.)
- San Juan Capistrano
- Marco Forster Middle School
High schools
- Aliso Viejo
- Aliso Niguel High School (A New American High School, National Blue Ribbon, California Distinguished School)
- Dana Point
- Dana Hills High School (A National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished School)
- Mission Viejo
- Capistrano Valley High School (A California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon Finalist, and IB World School)
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Tesoro High School (A California Distinguished School)
- San Clemente
- San Clemente High School (A California Distinguised and IB World School)
- San Juan Capistrano
Alternative Education Programs
- San Juan Capistrano
- Junipero Serra High School
- Adult School/Community Education
Student ethnicity
Ethnicity This District State Average White, not Hispanic 67.4% 28.56% Asian 5.2% 8.25% Hispanic or Latino 18.1% 48.6% Multiple or No Response 5.8% 3.05% African American, not Hispanic 1.4% 7.39% Filipino 1.5% 2.67% Pacific Islander .3% .63% American Indian or Alaska Native .2% .76% See also
External links
Categories:- School districts in Orange County, California
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
