Quotes By Source

Trustee Bryson supports board decision to hire Carter as CUSD's new interim superintendent

Sep 01, 2007 | Permalink

Anna Bryson, Trabuco Canyon News “We are all enthusiastic about this decision. He is the right person to be Capistrano Unified’s interim superintendent.”

Bryson is one of the ABC reform trustees.

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Board vice president says Carter made necessary changes at FSUSD, and is disappointed that he is leaving the district

Aug 19, 2007 | Permalink

Anne Griffin, TheReporter.com "Apparently, he [Carter] has accepted a position with the Capistrano Unified School District...he did a number of things in the district, as far as making changes that needed to be made. I am disappointed he is not going to be with us; we offered him a three-year contract, but apparently, he felt it wasn't a good fit."

Griffin explained that the FSUSD trustees voted in the spring to extend Carter's contract to 2010. Griffin is vice president of the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.

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FSUSD board president describes Carter as a "change agent" and laments loss of Carter to CUSD

Aug 19, 2007 | Permalink

Gary Falati, TheReporter.com "It's definitely our loss. He [Carter] was hired as a change agent, and he made major changes in our district... He's done a great job for our district, and I'm saddened by his leaving us."

Carter started out as a superintendent for Bourbon County Schools and served as interim superintendent and state administrator for Floyd County Schools, both in Kentucky, before being hired as a deputy superintendent for the Oakland Unified School District in 2003, which at the time was facing a multi-million dollar deficit. The Fairfield-Suisun trustees voted to hire Carter in March of 2005. Falati said that the changes were necessitated by thousands of students that had fallen behind in math, English, or science. Falati is the Governing Board President of Fairfield-Suisun USD.

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Smith does right by his old district, but ignored or covered up bad priorities and waste at CUSD

Jul 19, 2007 | Permalink

Dennis Smith, The Orange County Register “We try to have a pretty close ear to the ground. These are the things that touch students directly. I think we have the right improvements.”

So, after Smith prematurely announced his implausible plan to "grow into" the CUSD Taj Mahal last May, he now gets his priorities straight as he helps the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District spend virtually all of $195 million in bond funds on improvements for children. Too bad he couldn't have been correspondingly honest and candid about the unresponsive and out-of-touch Fleming trustees who wasted tens of millions of redevelopment funds and tax revenues on improvements that could have, but did not benefit the children. Smith is the former CUSD interim superintendent who resigned six days after the Orange County District Attorney announced indictments against former CUSD administrators James Fleming and Susan McGill. Smith quickly retreated to resume his duties as superintendent of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, a post he never technically quit while acting as interim superintendent at CUSD.

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Recall Committee hoped to work with Smith and held comments pending meeting that was cancelled when he resigned

May 31, 2007 | Permalink

Tom Russell, The Orange County Register “We had purposely held back on making any statements about Smith. We wanted to give the guy a fair chance. We absolutely and 100 percent support the idea of moving on. We, however, require that it be done correctly – with true accountability.”

See Transcript of CUSD Recall Committee speech delivered to Dennis Smith and the Trustees at the May 7, 2007 board meeting. Russell is a CUSD parent and spokesperson for the CUSD Recall Committee and the Committee to Reform CUSD.

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Smith says he listened to some district critics who didn't listen in return

May 31, 2007 | Permalink

Dennis Smith, The Orange County Register “I know there is that sense of maybe not being listened to at times,” he had said. “It runs both ways. I’ve been in conversations with folks who are critical of the district and I’m thinking, ‘You’re not listening either!’ ”

Smith said in an interview in early May that he would solve problems by inviting everyone to the table and making sure people felt listened to. At the time, though, he noted some tensions. Smith is the former Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District and, currently, the Superintendent of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

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McCully intentionally buried his head when it came to the CUSD Enemies List

May 15, 2007 | Permalink

Grand Jury transcript, page 1049 “Q. Was it your intention then not to even look into these matters that were basically, let's say, a hit list? A. The answer is, yes.”

When former Interim Superintendent McCully came to CUSD, the existence of the CUSD enemies lists was well known. Accusations that elected officials and high ranking CUSD staff members created the illegal lists were everywhere. So what actions did the superintendent take to ensure that this type of abuse was no longer happening? What actions did the superintendent take to ensure that this type of abuse would never occur again in the future? Once again, McCully admitted under oath that he basically chose to put his head in the sand and completely ignore this obvious abuse by the CUSD leadership!

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CUSD had no chance for accountability with McCully at the helm

May 15, 2007 | Permalink

Grand Jury transcript, page 1036 “…I never got involved to know the details at all. My focus at the time was to keep the District focused and engaged in a positive direction…I never dealt with the past.”

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Smith expresses hopes for his legacy with CUSD

May 06, 2007 | Permalink

Smith, The Orange County Register "That I was able to come into the district and help to rebuild the trust between the community and the schools. In the short term, there’s all these issues, almost like brush fires. The first thing is to look at these brush fires and begin to deal with them. I need to understand (those), get some things calmed down, and then sit back and say, “Where are we going as a district? I refuse to get pulled from one fire to the next fire and try to douse it out as we go along. I think what we need to do is have a much more cohesive, coherent plan for the future."

Smith is the Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District.

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Trustees hired Smith for several reasons, but based on OC Register report, reform mandate issues were ignored

May 06, 2007 | Permalink

Sam Miller, The Orange County Register “Smith, who had been chief in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, was hired in March to help the district put the tumultuous summer in the past, to rehabilitate its relationship with the community and to keep the schools’ focus on learning.”

Miller is the south-county education reporter for the Orange County Register.

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Smith draws surprising conclusions about reform issues and advocates without even speaking to reform leaders

May 06, 2007 | Permalink

Dennis Smith, The Orange County Register “My first impressions were, this is a really good district. I’ve known it to be for 20 years. I’m thinking, something’s gone terribly wrong. … I didn’t realize the intensity of it until I got here. I’m beginning to figure out more and see that there’s adequate blame on both sides.”

Smith may have misstepped early in the game by implying moral equivalency between district and reform advocates. If this is so, despite the opinions of some that he is "scary brilliant," he obviously has much to learn if he really wants to make positive changes at CUSD. Smith is the Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District.

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McCully says he didn't accomplish everything he wanted to do as interim superintendent

Apr 28, 2007 | Permalink

Charles McCully, The Orange County Register “... I certainly didn’t accomplish everything I want to do. I was disappointed we didn’t complete negotiations with our employee organizations much sooner. Number two, while I think we’ve made significant progress on being a much more transparent organization, there is still much to be done, building trust and confidence.”

McCully is the former Interim Superintendent for the Capistrano Unified School District.

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New superintendent experienced and looks forward to challenges at CUSD

Mar 23, 2007 | Permalink

The Capistrano Dispatch “As Superintendent I have had the opportunity to face challenges similar to those that are being addressed by the Capistrano Unified School District. CUSD is known for its excellent instructional programs, great people, and active community participation. I’m looking forward to getting out to the schools; working with the dedicated teachers, principals, and parents; and inviting all stakeholders to join us in providing our children with a world-class education.” Capistrano Unified Trustees this month unanimously approved Dennis Smith as the district's new superintendent. Smith, who formally starts in July, will get $255,000 a year in salary, $900 a month in transportation allowance, his retirement contributions paid, up to 24 vacation days year and, if he stays at least five years, his health benefits paid until he's 65. The district will also contribute $33,000 a year to a tax-sheltered annuity for Smith.

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New superintendent gets lucrative compensation package

Mar 13, 2007 | Permalink

Sam Miller, The Orange County Register “Smith, superintendent since 2000 of the 27,000-student Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, will be paid $255,000 annually plus benefits – including $900 a month for a car and a $33,000 tax-sheltered annuity each year – to lead the 50,000-student CUSD.” Miller is the education reporter for the Orange County Register.

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Mission Viejo firm hired by CUSD to find new superintendent

Jan 05, 2007 | Permalink

Amanda Glowish, Saddleback Valley News "Mission Viejo-based Leadership Associates was hired by the Capistrano Unified School District trustees to find a superintendent for the 50,000-student school district. The new superintendent will replace Charles McCully before the end of the school year. McCully has led the district since August, when James Fleming retired as superintendent." Glowish is a reporter for The Orange County Register.

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OC Register senior editor jubilant Fleming resigned

Jul 30, 2006 | Permalink

Steven Greenhut, The Orange County Register "Other stuff happened, too, while I was away, such as the resignation of Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent James Fleming. Hooray. The Register reported that he had compiled a Nixonian enemies list of those who supported a school board recall."

Greenhut is senior editorial writier and columnist for The Orange County Register.

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Reader critical of superintendents' compensation

Apr 26, 2005 | Permalink

Al Fanelli, Orange County Register "The front-page article about school superintendents' salaries reassured me of something I already knew - that our tax dollars are once again being wasted ["O.C. superintendents in elite pay class," News, April 24]. The salaries and benefits for these positions are an outrage. They are paid these salaries, it is said, because it is hard to get good people and retain them. Maybe we should take a closer look at those who are doing the hiring."

Reader's reaction to an article published in The Orange County Register entitled, "O.C. superintendents in elite pay class," News, April 24, 2005.

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Reader critical of superintendents' compensation

Apr 26, 2005 | Permalink

Rosemary LaBonte, Orange County Register "The best quote? James Fleming of Capistrano Unified: 'This job is hard and demanding.' Cry me a river. Here are some hard and demanding jobs: air traffic controller; paralegal with a demanding boss; a guy picking strawberries in a field for eight hours. The superintendents think they are part executive, part mediator and part politician. Actually, the job is 100 percent politics. And when did those in the teaching profession become company executives with "lifestyles" that had to be maintained?"

Reader's reaction to an article published in The Orange County Register entitled, "O.C. superintendents in elite pay class," News, April 24, 2005.

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Reader critical of superintendents' compensation

Apr 26, 2005 | Permalink

John Boag, Orange County Register "If there is one thing government officials do well, in monarchies, dictatorships or democracies, it is to ensure their own financial well-being. It should therefore come as no surprise that local government bureaucrats, with their six-figure salaries for life, have used their positions for personal financial gains. It is absurd to compare private-sector compensation to that of government employees, since the latter do not have to worry about profits; they just spend unlimited taxpayers' money."

Reader's reaction to an article published in The Orange County Register entitled, "Perks fill out city managers' compensation," News, April 25, 2005.

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Fleming tries to preempt rejection with sleezy letter to save face and lay false foundation for future denials

Dec 20, 1999 | Permalink

Terry Webster, The Las Vegas Sun "Two other finalists, George Garcia, superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District in Tucson, Ariz., and James Fleming, superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District in Southern California, were previously eliminated by the School Board. Almost simultaneously, Fleming produced a letter to Attea stating he was no longer interested."
Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.

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Fleming rejected by Clark County School Board, not a team player and concern over leadership style

Dec 08, 1999 | Permalink

Terry Webster, The Las Vegas Sun "One superintendent candidate for the Clark County School District was eliminated by the School Board on Tuesday, leaving two hopefuls in the running. James Fleming, superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., was scratched from the board's list of finalists ... Board President Ruth Johnson and board members Mary Beth Scow, Susan Brager, Shirley Barber and Lois Tarkanian all named Fleming as the candidate they were the least interested in ... Barber said she didn't support Fleming because she prefers someone with more of a team approach. For Johnson, it was a matter of fit ... I think it was just his leadership style.' "
Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.

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Fleming reveals organizational philosophy behind later conspiracies of silence at CUSD

Dec 06, 1999 | Permalink

Terry Webster, The Las Vegas Sun "Fleming said he believes his Cabinet of school executives should debate issues, but they all should support a decision after it is made. Further, Fleming said once a decision is made, Cabinet members should not offer differing opinions on the issue to School Board members. 'It places a chill on the organization.' "

Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.

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Fleming rejected as "too bureaucratic," Fleming dodges the allegation, says "bureacrat" means nothing

Dec 06, 1999 | Permalink

Terry Webster, The Las Vegas Sun "One of the main objections the board presented to Fleming during his final interview was a perception that he seems too bureaucratic. Fleming said he would address that by "humanizing" all of the so-called bureaucrats in the school district. This could be done by placing articles about school executives in school newsletters or magazines. Bureaucrat is a term that is overused and means nothing, he added."
Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.

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Fleming addresses his controversial image in connection with special education issues

Dec 03, 1999 | Permalink

James Fleming, The Las Vegas Sun "I'm a controversial figure on special education because I'm willing to stand up and say, 'the emperor has no clothes.' "

Fleming was asked about concerns over a special education controversy surrounding Fleming while he was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Fleming is the Superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District.

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Fleming too bureaucratic, bad for low-achieving students

Dec 02, 1999 | Permalink

Patricia Cunningham, The Las Vegas Sun "Fleming is exactly what we don't need. He's too bureaucratic and he puts on a good face. It's everything low-achieving students don't need in education."
Cunningham made this remark after watching Fleming in action while being interviewed as a candidate for superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cunningham is the chairwoman for the Alliance for Social Justice.

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Fleming showcases his success at building schools and says "accountability" is an essential part of his education philosophy

Dec 02, 1999 | Permalink

Terry Webster, The Las Vegas Sun "Since 1992 Fleming has been involved in opening 17 new schools in Capistrano, all of them on time and on budget. His education philosophy covers four main areas: high academic expectations for students, hiring the best teachers, fostering community involvement and accountability."
Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.

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Fleming criticized as a name-dropper, bureaucrat, too self-promoting

Dec 02, 1999 | Permalink

Terry Webster, The Las Vegas Sun "The strengths and weaknesses of all of the candidates were aired during public interviews held by the School Board and the Superintendent Search Process Committee. Following his interviews, some of the criticisms made of Fleming were that he was a name-dropper and a bureaucrat. Some also said he was too self-promoting. But Fleming said he sees nothing wrong with demonstrating he can do the job."
Fleming was being interviewed as a candidate for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District in Las Vegas Nevada. Webster is a reporter for The Las Vegas Sun.

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"... a campaign dedicated to restoring honesty, integrity and accountability to public education."