Capistrano Unified School District
Encyclopedia
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 http://www.capousd.org/about.htm#pro. The school district serves the following cities:
The CUSD administers 38 elementary school
s (plus 1 closed), 10 middle school
s, 6 high school
s and 2 alternative education
programs.
CUSD encompasses 195 square miles (505 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. http://www.capousd.org/about.htm#pro
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.
Current Board of Trustees:
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.
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 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.
2008 Teachers of the Year: http://www.capousd.org/recognitions.htm#csea
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, the 12th largest in California and the 82nd largest in the United States. The district currently has 51,512 students http://www.capousd.org/about.htm#pro. The school district serves the following cities:
- Aliso ViejoAliso Viejo, CaliforniaAliso Viejo is a city in Orange County, California. It had a population of 47,823 as of the 2010 census, up from 40,166 as of the 2000 census. It became Orange County's 34th city on July 1, 2001, the only city in the county to incorporate since 2000...
- Dana PointDana Point, California-Climate:Dana Point enjoys a mild climate where temperatures tend to average around the 60's. The warmest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month is December with an average minimum temperature of 44 degrees Fahrenheit.-2010:The 2010...
- Laguna NiguelLaguna Niguel, CaliforniaLaguna Niguel is an affluent city located in southern Orange County, California. The name "Laguna Niguel" is derived from the Spanish word "Laguna" which means lagoon, and the word "Nigueli" which was the name of a Juaneño Indian village that was once located on Aliso Creek. The population was...
- Mission ViejoMission Viejo, CaliforniaMission Viejo is a city located in southern Orange County, California, U.S. in the Saddleback Valley. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States, and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in its size...
- Rancho Santa MargaritaRancho Santa Margarita, CaliforniaRancho Santa Margarita is a city in Orange County, California. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master planned community set upon rolling hills. Most neighborhoods in Rancho Santa Margarita are within various homeowners associations...
- San ClementeSan Clemente, CaliforniaSan Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
- San Juan CapistranoSan Juan Capistrano, CaliforniaSan Juan Capistrano is a city in southern Orange County, California, located approximately southeast of Downtown Santa Ana. The current OMB metropolitan designation for San Juan Capistrano and the Orange County Area is “Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA.” The population was 34,593 at the 2010 census,...
- Coto de CazaCoto de Caza, CaliforniaCoto de Caza is a census-designated place and guard-gated private community in Orange County, California. The population was 14,866 at the 2010 census, up from 13,057 at the 2000 census....
- Dove Canyon
- Ladera RanchLadera Ranch, CaliforniaLadera Ranch is a census-designated place and a planned community located in south Orange County, California just outside the city limits of San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo....
- Las FloresLas Flores, CaliforniaLas Flores is an unincorporated census-designated place in Orange County, California, located adjacent to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita, California. The population was 5,971 at the 2010 census, up from 5,625 at the 2000 census...
- Wagon WheelWagon Wheel, Rancho Santa Margarita, CaliforniaWagon Wheel is a residential master planned community located adjacent to the city of Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County, California. It houses a golf course, and is primarily newer development constructed in the early 1990s. It is served by the Capistrano Unified School District, and has one...
The CUSD administers 38 elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s (plus 1 closed), 10 middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s, 6 high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s and 2 alternative education
Alternative education
Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives are often rooted in various philosophies that are fundamentally different...
programs.
CUSD encompasses 195 square miles (505 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. http://www.capousd.org/about.htm#pro
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.
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: http://www.capousd.org/press_release/NRClassifiedEmploftheYear08.pdf- 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: http://www.capousd.org/recognitions.htm#csea
- 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.
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
- Aliso Viejo Middle SchoolAliso Viejo Middle SchoolAliso Viejo Middle School is located in Aliso Viejo, California, and typically enrolls between 1,100 and 1,200 students total. The student body consists of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Its principal is Jennifer Garrett-Smalley, and it is located in the Capistrano Unified School District...
- Don Juan Avila Middle School
- Aliso Viejo Middle School
- Ladera Ranch
- Ladera Ranch Middle School (A Top 10 Middle School in Orange County and two-time California Distinguished School.)
- Laguna Niguel
- Niguel Hills Middle SchoolNiguel Hills Middle SchoolNiguel Hills Middle School is located in Laguna Niguel, California. It opened in 1975 and teaches grade levels 6 to 8 and is a blue ribbon school. The school belongs to the Capistrano Unified School District.-External links:*...
- Niguel Hills Middle School
- 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 SchoolAliso Niguel High SchoolAliso Niguel High School is a high school located in the city of Aliso Viejo, California, U.S. Most of its students reside in the communities of Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel. The school is a California Distinguished School, a National Blue Ribbon School, and a New American High School...
(A New American High School, National Blue Ribbon, California Distinguished School)
- Aliso Niguel High School
- Dana Point
- Dana Hills High SchoolDana Hills High SchoolDana Hills High School is a high school in Dana Point, California. It is one of the oldest high schools in South Orange County, having opened in 1973...
(A National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished School)
- Dana Hills High School
- Mission Viejo
- Capistrano Valley High SchoolCapistrano valley high schoolCapistrano Valley High School is a public high school at the southern border of Mission Viejo, California that belongs to the Capistrano Unified School District. It is set on a hilltop overlooking the I-5 freeway corridor and Saddleback Mountain. It is located on Via Escolar, off the Avery exit of...
(A California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon Finalist, and IB World School)
- Capistrano Valley High School
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Tesoro High SchoolTesoro High SchoolTesoro High School is a public school found in the southern Orange County area of Las Flores, California. Established in the fall of 2001, Tesoro is 1 of 7 high schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. As of the 2009-2010 year, Tesoro serves nearly 3,000 students in grades 9-12...
(A California Distinguished School)
- Tesoro High School
- San Clemente
- San Clemente High School (A California Distinguised and IB World School)
- San Juan Capistrano
- San Juan Hills High SchoolSan Juan Hills High SchoolSan Juan Hills High School is a high school located in San Juan Capistrano, California, and it is the sixth high school of the Capistrano Unified School District...
- San Juan Hills High School
Alternative Education Programs
- San Juan Capistrano
- Junipero Serra High School
- Adult School/Community Education
Student ethnicity
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