EDITOR'S NOTE: Patch is running each Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees candidate's statement on file with the county Registrar of Voters office on consecutive days. One candidate, Don Franklin Richardson, did not file a candidate's statement. Trustee Area No. 2 covers Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch and parts of San Juan Capistrano.
NAME: Carol McCormick
OCCUPATION: Community Volunteer
Prudent financial management, fiscal accountability and transparency in decision-making are part of my comprehensive experience as a community leader in Ladera Ranch that I will bring to CUSD.
My priority as trustee is to provide the necessary technology at all schools to enable innovative learning for every student. Achieving this requires creative partnerships with businesses and communities to bridge funding gaps imposed by Sacramento. My service on the board of the CUSD Foundation and within the Ladera community proves my ability to positively engage all parties to achieve results.
Having worked in college admissions I recognize the value of broad, rigorous academic preparation and opportuntiies for fulfilling activities. CUSD is an education leader and I am commited to enhancing its reputation for excellence by protecting outstanding programs and promoting advances in instruction and curriculum to meet the needs of all students.
I am the proud parent of two Tesoro graduates and a senior at San Juan Hills. I have volunteered in classrooms and the school office and served in leadership roles in PTA, booster clubs, community sports and scouting.
I am fully committed to serving the children, parents and members of our school communities.
Vote McCormick for CUSD.
On these candidate statements, I'd love for there to be follow-up and for the candidates to be asked specific, hard questions--would they have voted for the last budget? How about Alpay's motion to stifle dissent? Would they have supported the teacher salary restoration? Do they favor simply lopping off weeks of school days to balance the budget as the current majority board does? How should budget shortfalls be addressed--parcel taxes? Larger class sizes and more teacher and other layoffs? Cuts to academics, sports and extracurricular programs? Should preservation of teacher salaries, benefits and salaries be the main driver of determining the budget? So far, these statements aren't really saying anything. I'm looking forward to Reardon's... someone who isn't afraid of taking a stand.
Look who's supporting McCormick-- and the other candidates Capistrano Unified Children First (the name itself is a lie!) is backing. This is a group that is committed to electing any candidate who will support union demands, no matter how outlandish and no matter what it does to place students as the last priority. If you want trustees just like Alpay and Pritchard--you know, the ones who wouldn't even allow DEBATE on a budget that cuts three weeks of school from our kids' year--vote for McCormick.
Your attemps to attack Carol is without merit. I guess this is your attempt to point the finger away from the hundreds of thousands of dollars your candidate Jim Reardon STOLE from CUSD!
I don't know either Jim Reardon or Carol McCormick. My kids are in CUSD schools, and have had a mix of once-in-a-lifetime to good to average to fair teachers. One of the best was laid off for no reason other than lack of seniority. The tenure system is screwed up, and fortunately is beginning to change in certain states, but not in California where CTA runs Sacramento. (VOTE FOR PROP 32!) There was no stealing of hundreds of thousands of dollars despite how many times you and your ilk repeat the lie. What is the truth is that Capistrano Unified First is supported by those who put the demands of the teachers' union as their priority above anyone else, especially the students in this district. In its support of candidates like Alpay and Pritchard this organization has helped drive this district to near insolvency. It was the only large district in California that had to borrow funds to meet payroll--something it had never done in its history. That's scary. And that's to preserve a union contract that asked teachers to give up next to nothing during a time of financial crisis. McCormick is supported by this organization--and because of that I won't consider her as a candidate. If she were truly committed to children and to their educational needs, she wouldn't have accepted their endorsement. If she goes ahead and rejects their support, I'll certainly consider her as a candidate.
Children First aka Union First is tied to the hip of the teachers union. An endorsement from one is an endorsement from the other. Go back and look at how both coordinated their rallies and signature gathering to recall trustees who wouldn't do their bidding.
I would honestly hope, whatever side that you are on, that you are intelligent enough to not vote based on campaign mailers and yard signs and third hand information. Do your research, it is all out there in cyberspace for you. Like you, I want what is the absolute best for my children. We all do.
I will not change your mind, you will not change mine, so let's call it a day. Have a nice evening.
It's been fun!