• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
Saturday, March 25, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
The Capistrano Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

Capo Unified to Hold Election to Fill Trustee Vacancy

by Capo Dispatch
March 17, 2022 1:43PM
in EYE ON SJC, News
Capistrano Unified School District Discusses Graduations, Grades During Coronavirus Pandemic
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Collin Breaux | Twitter: @collin_breaux

The Capistrano Unified School District is planning to hold a special election in November to fill a vacancy for the Area 2 trustee seat, in the wake of former Trustee Pamela Braunstein’s resignation.

The election will be held on Nov. 8, and the position will remain vacant until then.

Area 2 covers Ladera Ranch and most of San Juan Capistrano. Braunstein recently resigned because of disagreements with proposed anti-mask policies brought forth by other trustees, as well as personal safety concerns following what she said was “never-ending, organized harassment by a certain vocal minority.”

Trustees and parents who spoke during a meeting on Wednesday, March 16, favored deciding the new representative through an election instead of appointing someone. Even if someone was appointed in the interim, CUSD would still have to call a special election in November.

“I was appointed, and Trustee (Judy) Bullockus was as well, but I think something happened in the world,” Trustee Krista Castellanos said. “We all had a life-altering event, and when life-altering events happen, things change. We’ve all had them, and have lived through a pandemic or are living through a pandemic. How I got to the board, I think, has now changed.”

Trustee Gila Jones said someone who gets a provisional appointment is the “appointed incumbent.”

“Generally, the appointed incumbent is reelected—so it may seem as though the voters are being given a choice, but the dice gets a little bit stacked,” Jones said.

Trustee Amy Hanacek said appointments have been the previous norm, but “a trustee departure due to personal safety concerns and harassment and emotionally charged board meetings might be the new normal.”

With more public focus on the school district, transparency and giving the public a voice are important, Hanacek said.

“(The appointment process) was a way to circumvent a voters’ election,” Hanacek said. “The fairest thing to do is to take it to the voters of that area.”

CUSD cannot legally hold an election for the seat before November.

Trustees also addressed the circumstances of Braunstein’s departure, including the hostile tone of recent board meetings fueled by anti-mask and anti-vaccination sentiments from parents and students.

“Let’s focus on speaking to each other with kindness and respect. Let’s agree to disagree, and find common ground and work together to bring success to our students,” Castellanos said. “Let’s focus on educational leaders. Allow them to lead, and trust their knowledge and insight.”

Jones said she is against audience members booing trustees and student advisors with whom they disagree, also speaking about “inappropriate” and “threatening” emails she herself received.

“I’ve served with these five board members for at least a year, as well as five others who’ve departed. Each of them has said things or voted in ways that has perplexed and frustrated me, and sometimes I’ve even been angry,” Jones said.

“But without exception,” she continued, “I have found all 10 to be ethical, principled people who sit in these seats and spent countless hours on this job because they care deeply about children and their education.”

Collin Breaux

Collin Breaux covers San Juan Capistrano and other South Orange County news as the City Editor for The Capistrano Dispatch. Before moving to California, he covered Hurricane Michael, politics and education in Panama City, Florida. He can be reached by email at cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
Tags: CaliforniaCapistrano Unified School DistrictCUSDCUSD Board of TrusteesEducationElectionelection 2022FeaturedLadera RanchOrange CountySan Juan Capistranoschool boardschools
ShareTweetPin

Capo Dispatch

Related Posts

Kid Equestrian Picks Up Win in Horse Show

Kid Equestrian Picks Up Win in Horse Show

March 24, 2023
New Name Joins Planning Commission

New Name Joins Planning Commission

March 24, 2023
On Life and Love after 50: Seniors Should Reveal Their True Age on Dating Profiles

On Life and Love After 50: ‘My Money Is on The Chair’—Six Words Bring Love to a Senior Couple

March 24, 2023
Adoptable Pet of the Week: Turtle

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Turtle

March 24, 2023
Next Post
Registrar of Voters Releases COVID-19 Guidelines for Election Observers

Who’s on the Ballot for South OC’s Primary Election Races?

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

The Dispatch Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get The Dispatch delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Current Issue
  • Contact Us
  • San Clemente Times
  • Dana Point Times
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye On SJC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit A Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SJC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • Dana Point Times
    • San Clemente Times
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SJC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit A Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Announcements
    • Submit An Announcement
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Guide
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Inside/Outside Home
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
  • SJC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.