THIS IS WRONG!!!

CUSD Reform Slate TV Ad...


CUSD Reform Slate...
Meet the Reform Candidates

Jack Brick
Trustee Area 1
Aersospace Executive, Teacher



Ken Maddox
Trustee Area 5
School Board Member, Businessman


Sue Palazzo
Trustee Area 2
School Board Member, Property Manager, Teacher


Mike Winsten
Trustee Area 3
Attorney, Independent Businessman

CUSD Reform Slate Mailer...


Sample Ballot...

Find your polling place on the back cover of your Sam- ple Ballot Voter Information Pamph- let, on the web at www.ocvote.com
or call the OC Registrar at
(714) 567-7600.
See Sample Ballot.


Vote by Mail Applications may be
obtained at www.ocvote.com/mail. Applications for vote-by-mail ballots must reach the OC Registrar by Oct 28th.

Reform Election Results...

Nov 4, 2008 General Election
Jun 24, 2008 Special Election
Nov 7, 2006 General Election
Nov 5, 2002 General Election


Latest Poll Results...

Do you support the package of propositions [1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F] on the ballot in May?

19%.....Yes, it will help our schools.
62%....No, I've had it with Sacramento.
19%.....I don't have enough information yet.
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Apr 10, 2009, Page 10

Do you agree with CUSD trustees' decision to fire Superintendent Woodrow Carter?

57%....Yes it's about time.
35%.....No! He was good for the district.
6%.......It's just going to lead to a lawsuit.
2%.......It didn't matter to me.
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Mar 27, 2009, Page 8

Do you agree with CUSD trustees' decision to fire Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter?

60%....Yes it's about time.
28%.....No! He was good for the district.
10%.....It's just going to lead to a lawsuit.
2%.......It didn't matter to me.
Source: Dana Point Times, Mar 20, 2009, Page 10

Do you support the CUSD Trustees' Decision to Fire Superintendent Carter?

59%....Yes
37%.....No
4%.......Don't Care
Source: San Clemente Times, Mar 19, 2009, Pg 12

What do you think of the CUSD Recall Committee's candidates' decision to skip the League of Women Voters' forum?

70%....They did the right thing.
28%.....It's wrong; the candidates should face the public.
1%..... It doesn't matter one way or another.
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Oct 17, 2008, Page 10

How closely are you following the turmoil in Capistrano Unified School District?

62%....Like a hawk. The place is a mess!
15%.....Some - It seems like there's some valid issues.
23%.....Not at all - it's all political bluster now!
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Sep 19, 2008, Page 8

Should CUSD opponents continue the attempted recall against trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke?

80%....Yes, they need to go ASAP
7%.......No, because it's a waste of money now
12%.....No, they're done in Nov, anyhow
Source: Capistrano Dispatch, Jan 25, 2008, Page 8

CUSD Trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke are the targets of a recall election planned for this summer. What do you think of the recall?

91%.....They’ve got to go.
6%........Keep them in office.
3%........I’m not sure yet, I need to hear more
0%........What recall?
Source: Dana Point Times, March 28, 2008, Page 10

Latest News Videos...

The latest video news reports from the Emmy Award Winning Full Disclosure Network®

Dec 2005 - School Corruption Sparks Citizen Revolt

Mar 2006 - Citizen Revolt Widens, Recall Election Corrupted






Mar 2006 - Parents Declare War On School Board





Sep 2006 - Has The OC Voter Registrar Broken Down?



Oct 2006 - Citizens Provoke DA Raid On School District





Sep 2007 - Do They Still Have The Consent Of The People?





James Fleming and Susan McGill Indicted KCAL TV 9 News

Latest Cartoons...

See All Cartoons

Featured Articles...


OC Weekly article, "Hard Knocks"
In-depth report on the three-year grassroots effort to reform CUSD.

OC Weekly slideshow
"Capo Unified: Life In The Barracks, A peek at some of Capo Unified's schools"

The Pictures
The real story behind the pictures of CUSD's disgusting portables and that infamous SCHS toilet

Choosing to Crowd
OC Register reporter Keith Sharon reveals the truth about CUSD's infamous facilities planning blunders, inequities and waste in this four-part investigative series.

Featured Columns...


Steven Greenhut
Senior Editor
Orange County Register

• "The OC gadflies got it right on CUSD"
• "Picture this: Entire Capo board board target of recall"

Featured Interview...

Hena Cuevas, Reporter, KCET Ch. 28, Life & Times
Cuevas interviews Marlene Draper and recall leaders.

Featured Blogs...


Tom Russell
Spokesperson and Member
CUSD Recall Committee


• "Another turf war brewing in CUSD"
• "Attendance boundaries at issue again? Say it isn't so."
• "ABC committee members resign over flawed boundary assessment process and district's failure to take responsibility"

Holiday Humor...
Holiday fun with Woody, Marlene, Sheila, Mikey and the Stiffler...and Woody's right where we've come to appreciate him the most - smack dab in the middle of more Old Guard mischief-making!

December 25, 2008 Oh m'gosh…they’e back! Former CUSD Trustees Marlene Draper and Sheila Benecke have been elfed…again! And this time, former Trustees Mike Darnold and Duane Stiff, and Superintendent Woodrow Carter have joined them in the holiday fun. Marlene and Sheila were booted in a humiliating landslide recall last June, the Stiffler went down hard in the November election and, with no more Old Guard buddies to play with, Mikey quit. Woody has been implicated in numerous Old Guard wrong- doings and some brand new ones of his own. But none of this has dampened their holiday spirits - or their notorious, tricky moves - as these party animals have been hitting the holiday party circuit. They may have been disastrous for the district, but in the spirit of the holidays, and just for grins, let's all join Woody and the Old Guard Mischiefmakers for some hoppin' holiday fun in:

"Forest Elves", "Charleston Elves",
"Hoedown Elves" and "Disco Elves"

Breaking News...
New Documentary Film Shines National Spotlight on CUSD Reform Movement

Click here to watch video trailer.

"Not As Good As You Think: The Myth of the Middle Class School" is a new groundbreaking documentary shatters the myth that "good" schools located in "nice" neighborhoods are shielded from the education crisis that pervades schools in poor, urban areas. Using compelling data on school performance and interviews with parents, students, principals and school reformers, “Not as Good as You Think” confirms every parent's silent fear: that their financial sacrifice and investment in an expensive home located in what they believe to be a "good" school district, may actually turn out to be an investment in an underperforming or even corrupt public school system.

The CUSD Recall Committee’s successful five year campaign to bring badly needed reform to the Capistrano Unified School District is prominently featured in this movie -- as an example of just how badly broken the American public school system can be in one of the country’s most affluent areas…and how tremendous improvements and reforms can be achieved by dedicated, vigilant citizen action and oversight.

“Not as Good as You Think” has opened to rave reviews across the country in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and most recently, at the West Coast premiere at the beautiful St. Regis Resort and Spa in Dana Point.

Click Here to Read OC Register Story
Click Here to Read OC Weekly Story

May 14, 2009 CUSD's Intolerant Anti-Religion Teacher, James Corbett, Exposed in Fox News Interviews with Student Chad Farnan!




May 1, 2009 CUSD's Anti-Religion Bigot Teacher Loses Court Battle; Found Guilty of Insulting Christians!

Court finds that teacher James Corbett violated his student's First Amendment rights. See OC Register article and Court Order in which the court finds against Corbett at pages 15, 18, 21 and 29.

March 27, 2009 URGENT UPDATE:
Union Leaders Are Hurting Our Children.

The CUSD board is facing a crisis. They must cut $25 million from the district’s 2009/2010 budget. Still, they want to save every teacher’s job and preserve the smallest class sizes possible. But since 85% of the district’s $550 million budget is paid in salaries, this can only be accomplished if the unions cooperate. Sadly, the unions are refusing to even consider a modest across-the-board cut to save every teacher’s job and preserve the smallest class sizes possible for our students. Click here for details.

March 24, 2009 District Administrators Propose Covering Massive Budget Deficit on the Backs of our Children, Families and Taxpayers...Again
Facing budget cuts of $25 million for 2009/2010, CUSD administrators are proposing further cuts to educational programs and increases in class sizes - bad news for children, their families and taxpayers. The elephant in the room? 85% of the district's $550 million budget is allocated to salaries, a factor conspicuously missing in the budget discussions. With the economy flagging and thousands loosing their jobs, highly paid CUSD administrators (check it out here) and union leaders are rejecting modest, across-the-board pay cuts -- a sensible solution supported by reform trustees that could preserve desperately needed education programs, smaller class sizes and protect overburdened taxpayers. Instead, administrators are proposing another assault on the remaining 15% of the budget, which is precious little to cover current classroom needs already cut to the bone. Apparently, this is fine with administrators, union leaders and tax-hike advocates who continue to ignore the "85%" elephant in the room that is crushing the educational needs of the children to death. See the OC Register story.

March 20, 2009 Report Confirms Carter Was Insubordinate and Guilty of Numer- ous Illegal and Other Improper Acts
The Capistrano Unified board has released a 54-page report (400 pages with exhibits) setting forth dozens of charges and evidence against former Superintendent Woodrow Carter. The scathing report describes the fired superintendent as an insubordinate, scheming administrator who engaged in numerous improper and illegal acts. The report reveals a corrupt side of Carter completely at odds with the image he has projected to his supporters at CUSD. The report concludes, "[W]hile Carter purports to 'love' the district and care for its students and the community, his apparent certainty that he would receive a 'nice buy-out' and 'an extended golfing vacation' at district expense is insulting and offensive to every member of that community." See OC Register story, official CUSD news release and official report on the board's decision on termination of Carter's employment.

March 10, 2009 Trustees Fire Spt. Carter!
Capistrano Unified Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter was fired Monday for "material breach of contract." For two months, Carter had been on paid administrative leave pending investigation of more than 60 charges involving his performance as superintendent. Although Carter claims to have addressed and refuted every allegation, the vote to terminate him for cause was unanimous. The board asked district counsel to prepare a statement consistent with its decision for later publication. See OC Register story.

March 9, 2009 New OC Register Column: Public School System Doesn't Need More Money - Its "Bankrupt Culture" Needs Reform and Common Sense.
Syndicated columnist Star Parker reveals the fallacy of the increased per-pupil spending "solution" offered by most public educators and teachers unions, exposing it for what it is – an excuse that prevents long-needed reforms and dooms our children to a culturally corrupt, monopolistic system that favors special interests and ignores common sense. Click here to read Ms. Star's column. See CUSD Recall Blog.

March 8, 2009  New Report Shows California Teachers Are Highest-Paid in the Nation...Yet the Teachers Union Wants Billions More.
Even with average teacher salaries higher than all 49 other states (25% above the national average), California's pubic schools still perform on average near the bottom (49th nationally). The CTA's low per-pupil spending argument is a flimsy excuse based on an arcane formula and ignores the negative impact higher teacher salaries have on classrooms. The CTA's "solution"? Ignore the state's greatest-ever budget crisis and ask already-overtaxed and increasingly-unemployed voters to approve ballot measure 1B on the May 19 ballot to drain $9.3 billion more out of taxpayers' pockets to pour into teachers' wallets. Now that's chutzpah! Click here to read the OC Register editorial. See CUSD Recall Blog.

March 3, 2009  New Report Confirms Woodrow Carter Engaged in Serious Misconduct While at CUSD.  
Investigative Reporter Daffodil Alton at the OC Weekly has published a blockbuster new report  detailing numerous instances of serious misconduct committed by Woodrow Carter while he was acting as CUSD Superintendent. The report confirms that at the same time Carter was telling the families of CUSD that he didn't know how he would fund our students' classrooms, he accepted gifts from, and was wined and dined at lavish resorts by, consultants seeking lucrative contracts with CUSD, that Carter successfully funneled lucrative school district contracts to those same consultants, that Carter failed to inform the School Board about the gifts he had received from these consultants, that Carter failed to disclose the gifts on the public disclosure forms in violation of the law, and that Carter submitted improper "double-dipping" expense reports to CUSD seeking reimbursement for expenses that had already been paid for by the consultants.  Click here to read the incredible story. See CUSD Recall Blog.

January 30, 2009 Trustee Bryson Confirms Board Had Valid, Well-Documented Causes To Remove Carter.
The Orange County Register confirms that Trustee Anna Bryson (the lone dissenter on the school board's 6-1 vote to put Carter on administrative leave) agrees with the rest of the Board there were multiple, valid, well-documented examples of Carter’s poor job performance to justify the immediate removal of Carter for cause.  Although Trustee Bryson may have disagreed with her colleagues as to whether the initial timing was right to remove Carter (due to the looming budget crisis she didn’t want CUSD to be a “rudderless ship”), from a substantive standpointTrustee Bryson has now confirmed she agrees with the rest of the CUSD Board of Trustees that there were more than enough reasons to remove Carter from his position. Read Bryson's quote on the CUSD Recall Blog

January 11, 2009 The truth about Woodrow Carter's past failures If all you heard were the impassioned gushing over Mr. Carter by employees and a few parents incited by union boss Vicki Soderberg, and their equally impassioned and vile attacks against our new trustees, you would think Carter should be beatified and the trustees condemned to the fiery pits of hell. Well, here are some facts and other points of view that Carter, Soderberg and their bully mob would prefer not discussed. CUSD Recall Blog

January 10, 2009 CUSD Board of Trustees releases public statement regarding Spt. Woodrow Carter. The board responds to questions regarding its decision to place Superintendent Woodrow Carter on administrative leave. CUSD Recall Blog

January 6, 2009 New trustees exercise leadership and take action to restore order in our broken school district. Comments on tonight's board decision to place Superintendent Woodrow Carter on administrative leave. CUSD Recall Blog

December 19, 2008 Was Capo superinten- dent supposed to be fired? Whether he was or not, he should be now.
Spt. Woodrow Carter, was scheduled to undergo a performance review yesterday, but now faces an uphill battle after he joined union boss Vicki Soderberg in a dishonest and disgraceful preemptive strike against the new board by attacking them, playing the victim card and inciting possibly the worst example of mob behavior in CUSD history. The special board meeting had been noticed as a "performance evaluation" for Carter with possible disciplinary action or termination of an unidentified "public employee." No allegations or charges were disclosed and no action was taken. Carter delivered a speech before the trustees went into closed session. The speech obviously was written in large part by Carter's labor counsel and was designed to intimidate and influence the new board's decisions by inciting confusion over the facts and the process, undeserved sympathy for Carter and groundless, hysterical outrage against the new board - all coordinated with the support of an unruly mob rallied by union boss Vicki Soderberg. Carter and Soderberg had been waging a political campaign of defamation against the new board members for months after Carter had become exposed after being implicated (even by the OC district attorney) in numerous wrongful acts. Ironically, whether the board previously had grounds to discipline or fire Carter or not, his defamatory remarks and disgraceful legal posturing and other offensive conduct yesterday certainly have given the board grounds to discipline of fire him for cause, now. Carter and Soderberg have declared war on the board, openly sewing the seeds of dissension among the rank-and-file. Carter has revealed himself to be insubordinate and an open threat to the integrity of the board as an institution. As such, Carter is unfit to serve as superintendent of CUSD, and the sooner he is terminated the better. See OC Register article by Scott Martindale, copy of Carter's speech, CUSD Recall Blog.

See Breaking News Archive