Campaign to Oust Palazzo Begins

Capistrano Unified Children First Inc., the organization behind 2010’s recall of two Capistrano Unified School District trustees and the successful defeat of a third incumbent up for re-election, sent a mass e-mail last week asking for donations to help oust Sue Palazzo next year.

“The 2012 campaign starts today!” reads the organization’s website.

“[S]upport the effort,” an e-mail sent June 20 from Children First states, “to remove Sue Palazzo from office in 2012! Palazzo is up for re-election, and all indications are that she wishes to run again and continue her campaign against our schools. Support our friends at Children First with a contribution to the 2012 campaign.”

Palazzo said Thursday she is not ready to announce her intentions for the next election. She rejected the assertion that she is "anti-school."

“I am naturally saddened to hear that a group is planning to campaign against me, but I can't worry about a political event over a year away when there are so many critical issues at hand. Our time should be spent dealing with issues directly affecting our students,” she said.

Palazzo cited the current budget process as her first priority. “We need a sound, sustainable budget for the 2011-2012 school year and beyond,” she said.  The board of trustees is set to vote on the 2011-12 budget at its Wednesday meeting.

In a statement to Patch, Children First President Fran Sdao said her organization, which is a cooperative effort of parents, community and business leaders, “is committed to the highest standards of leadership for the . Our focus continues to be on supporting public-education advocates whose primary focus is on student learning and achievement and who recognize the important role and responsibilities of serving as community leaders.”

The June 20 e-mail called out Palazzo and fellow Trustee Ellen Addonizio for that governs open meetings, known as the Ralph M. Brown Act. A San Juan Capistrano resident has  for . Lawyers with the  the matter.

Palazzo and Addonizio's attorney, Craig Alexander, has requested the district reimburse him $13,344 in fees. He has said in letters to the district that his clients and the rest of the trustees have “very conflicting versions” of what happened in closed sessions regarding the restorations and therefore needed independent counsel.

Trustees tabled the reimbursement request two weeks ago with the intent to bring it up again after the district attorney’s office about the board’s alleged Brown Act violations.

“This outrageous attorney expects CUSD to pay him $320/hour,” says the Children First e-mail. “That money will come right out of the classroom and the education of the district’s children.”

In comparison, the school district’s attorney, Jack M. Sleeth, Jr. of San Diego’s Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz, bills Capistrano Unified $180 an hour. So far, the district has paid his firm $56,311 in the 2010-11 school year.