Elected Leaders Have an Obligation to Watch School Board Actions!

UNEDUCATED- The Fleecing of California's K-12 Public Education System - Why Local Elected Leaders Must Follow Local School Board Actions

Under "Local Control" the State of California has forced school districts to look for new revenue streams to fund a basic education for their students. Under "Local Control" school districts have the power to "tax" and incur debt. In the 2016 election, 186 of 206 local school facility bonds passed representing over $50 billion in new debt for California residents. In 2016, CUSD tried to pass Measure M a $889 million dollar bond that would have forced Capistrano Tax Payers to repay $1.89 Billion (with a B). In August of 2016 I notified every City about Measure M (they had no idea CUSD was doing this bond). Several City Mayors stepped forward to defeat the Bond. CUSDs' response was to sue the Mayors.

The Capistrano Unified school district has tremendous power to effect property values in our communities, to put us in debt, to enter into public/private partnerships that utilize taxpayer assets, and to control student/family data. The only way to protect the taxpayers quality of life is to follow the actions of the District and its Board of Trustees. Every elected official should want to have transparency of the District budget and actions. City's should have a staff member attend CUSD meetings to ensure that the interest of each City's residents are being served and not abused.

The facts are that students in the Capistrano Unified School District are being denied opportunity to reach their academic potential because all of the districts limited funds have gone into five consecutive years of across the board compensation increases totaling over $150 million dollars. At the same time- the district is laying off staff, states that it lacks sufficient funds to buy math books for all high school students. CUSD facilities need $189 million dollars in emergency repairs and maintenance. Our class sizes are the highest in the nation and our students do not receive instruction in art, music and science that aligns with minimum state content standards and curriculum frameworks unless parents fundraise for it.

Relying on grant money to fund districts has allowed organizations like Planned Parenthood and other activist organizations to buy access to our student data and mandate that students participate in vulgar sex curriculum that is neither age appropriate or medically accurate with no ability for parents to opt out.

CUSD looked the other way while the TCA built a toll road on Tesoro High School Property with no protective barrier. And did so without regard to the long term health effects that students and staff will forever suffer as a result.

We simply cannot afford to allow CUSD to take actions that negatively effect the health and safety of our children, and damage the financial health of our Communities.

Any elected leader that would not be appreciative of this FREE information is either corrupt or does not understand the issues that face our children every day. The continued lack of adequate funding in the classroom has resulted in a noticeable decline in the academic performance of students across all demographics. So while adults get rich off of our public education system, our students are failing. California use to have the number one public education system in the WORLD! California is now 44th in the nation in English, and 46th in the nation in Math.

EVERY ELECTED LEADER SHOULD CARE ABOUT THAT!

Troubling correspondence from Dana Point City Council Member Debra Lewis.