PLACENTIA / YORBA LINDA : New President Chairs Fiscal Fallout Meeting

Craig Olson’s habit of questioning even routine expenditures will be given a workout as he takes over as president of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Trustees.

The board unanimously elected Olson at the beginning of Tuesday night’s meeting, and he proceeded to lead a meeting filled with questions and concerns about how Orange County’s bankruptcy would affect district finances.

The meeting could well be an indication of what Olson will face throughout his term, as the district grapples with the fallout from its decision to borrow $50 million to place into the county’s beleaguered investment pool.

Olson was first elected to the board in 1992. Although he generally votes with the majority of the board, Olson frequently requires far more explanation for so-called “routine” expenditures than is normally presented to the board by district staff.

He is also reluctant to relinquish board control of the district’s finances, and last July he and trustee Jerry Brakebill voted against giving the superintendent authority to settle claims of up to $50,000 against the district.

Olson said he is aware that the coming year could be pivotal for the district.

“I am concerned about the challenges we have in the coming year,” Olson said. “It’s mostly about wanting to come up with right solutions. I’ve always felt money should be spent in the classroom for the benefit of kids.”

Also at the meeting, the board elected Brakebill as vice president and Karin M. Freeman as clerk. Freeman and Cathy Ann Brooks both took the oath of office, but it was just for show. They had been sworn in at an emergency board meeting Dec. 9.