Money, Control in Capistrano Unified

* I read with great interest the Sept. 12 letters of rebuttal to Capistrano Unified’s superintendent, James A. Fleming, especially the insights provided by fired teacher Paul Pflueger.

Pflueger stated that Fleming and his staff seem to be primarily concerned with public relations rather than real education in the classroom. He was right on target.

After 29 years at a state university, I can certainly identify.

Educrats have no compunctions about spending public money allocated for education for their own selfish purposes. That is, to advance their own political aspirations.

Money allocated for instruction is siphoned off with the specious labeling of “instructional support.” There is absolutely no accountability to the faculty or the taxpayer.

JOSEPH A. LEA

Anaheim

* Capistrano Unified’s superintendent, James A. Fleming, is correct when he says that the state should restore local control of schools (Orange County Voices, Sept. 5).

But he fails to take the next step, which is that enormous school districts such as Capistrano should also transfer their authority to an even more local and responsive level.

Capistrano covers 195 square miles, encompasses all or part of at least 11 cities, and serves more than 42,000 students.

It should take advantage of provisions of the California Education Code that permit it to start a process whereby, with voter approval, it is divided into two or more smaller districts.

The law also provides for a direct voter-initiated breakup of the district, so if the district won’t meet this challenge, the people can do it themselves.

At a minimum, the district should retain a consultant and form a balanced committee to investigate this idea.

Capistrano has passed the point where it gets any economies of scale from its size.

Parents, teachers and community members are also more satisfied in smaller districts because the decision-makers are accessible and responsive, rather than hidden in a large bureaucracy.

With new development adding more than 1,000 students a year to Capistrano Unified for the foreseeable future, a growth-induced crisis in the district is inevitable.

STEVEN RICE

Laguna Niguel