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Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Ledesma elected OUSD Board President
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE a news service of
Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
New OUSD Board elects Trustee Rick Ledesma OUSD President
At the last Orange Unified School Board meeting on December 9th 2010, OUSD Trustee Rick Ledesma was elected Orange Unified School Board President. Nominated by Trustee John Ortega, Ledesma who is now the leader of OUSD’s Board conservative majority was elected 7-0. After his election, Ledesma nominated Ortega for Vice President and Trustee Dr. Alexia Deligianni for Board Clerk. Deligianni was elected by a 7-0 vote, while Ortega was elected 6-1 with Trustee Kathy Moffat voting against Ortega without comment. Moffat did not answer an email request for an explanation of her vote against Ortega.
Before the election for officers, returning trustees Ledesma and Moffat, and the two new OUSD Trustees Diane Singer and Timothy Surridge, were all publicly sworn in after their November election victories. Moffat and Singer were sworn in by Singer’s husband, U.S. Marshal David Singer. Surridge and Ledesma were sworn in by Assemblyman Curt Hagman. Surridge, who defeated Kimberly Nichols for his seat, publicly thanked both Ledesma (who supported Surridge against Nichols), and political advisor Chris Enami for helping him in his election victory. Enami, (who was seated in the audience) ran against Nichols and lost four years ago is the Membership Chair of the Orange-Villa Park Republican Assembly (OVRPA). Orange Unified Trustee Clerk Dr. Deligianni is the President of the OVRPA. The Treasurer of the OVPRA is Chris Nguyen who was lost his bid for the OUSD Area 1 trustee seat in November to Diane Singer.
Also during the December 9th Board Meeting, Deputy Superintendent Michael Christensen gave a legally required update on the current fiscal year’s budget. Known as the First Interim Financial Report, Christensen reported that the district’s conservative budget calculations of state financing of $4941 per student has kept the district on a positive financial footing despite the incoming Governor Jerry Brown’s administrations estimated $ 28 billion shortage in the current state fiscal budget. With the meeting falling a month before Brown released his budget proposals this month, Christensen was uncharacteristically upbeat for a budget report. That attitude maybe well deserved considering that Orange Unified finances are currently one of the best in the county, if not the whole state. Christensen’s role in managing the budget and keeping OUSD solvent and so the communities schools operating smoothly during one of the worst financial crisis in history was recognized at the end of the year by the Greater Orange Communities Organization* . That watchdog group selected Christensen as this year’s Greater Orange Person of the Year (GOPY) award winner. The GOPY is awarded to “the person who’s actions most influenced the Greater Orange Communities” during the pervious year.
* Orange Net News is produced by the Orange Communication System /OCS/ the communication arm of the GOCO.
Surplus Killerfer Site on Closed Session of January 20 Board Meeting
On the Thursday January 20 Board Meeting, the Orange Unified School Board in Closed Session will discuss the sale of the surplus Killerfer Site property at 541 N Lemon Street. The property was on the November 18, 2010 as a resolution, but was pulled without explanation. The Resolution to sell the district’s Killerfer site property as surplus property was not less than $3.4 million.
Other items on the Board Agenda include three Information Items:
• 13A- An update on OUSD’s Three-Year Strategic Plan
• 13B- using Data for Academic Achievement
• 13C- A State Budget Update
INSIDE OUSD Community Donations
The January 20 OUSD Board Agenda pages 6-7 lists $82,918 in community donations. They include: Tustin Toyota- $50.00 in supplies to El Rancho M.S.; Nohl Canyon School Association- $2,094 for a Computer Aide; Jordan PTA- $1500 for transportation costs; Villa Park HS Boys and Girls Tennis Boosters- $2000 for salary stipends; Canyon High School ASB- $2,955 for Cheer Stipends.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
San Francisco trip by Trustees and Superintendent-$10,000
During the December 9th 2010 Board Meeting, Trustees Moffat and Surridge spoke about their attendance at the California School Board Association’s annual convention, held December 2-4 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Six OUSD trustees and Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier attended the conference. Early registration for the conference was $ 425 per person (registration after the November election was $455 per person) with accompanying spouses free to the conference. Convention room rates for the convention at the San Francisco Marriot Marquius for three nights were $717 and for the W San Francisco $ 589. Air flight and transportation, plus food expense accounts put the conference cost to district taxpayers at well over $10,000 in educational taxes. That brings the total for Watched Tax Dollars to $395,000.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2011: $ 0
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2010: $ 395,000
2010 Attorney Fee Tally:
5/27/10 Dannis, Woliver & Kelley $ 30,000
5/27/10 Parker & Covert $ 55,000
5/27/10 Parker & Covert (to 6/11) $300,000
12/2/10 2010 CSBA- Trustees and Superintendent: $ 10,000
TOTAL $ 395,000
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2009: $1,041,000
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2008: $901,200.00
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00*
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *
* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$32,880.00**
**The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
NEXT BOARD MEETING: 7:00 pm
THURSDAY January 20, 2011 OUSD BOARD ROOM
For AGENDA-CLICK ON AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION- 5:30 pm
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
“Independent Local Insight”
Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
New OUSD Board elects Trustee Rick Ledesma OUSD President
At the last Orange Unified School Board meeting on December 9th 2010, OUSD Trustee Rick Ledesma was elected Orange Unified School Board President. Nominated by Trustee John Ortega, Ledesma who is now the leader of OUSD’s Board conservative majority was elected 7-0. After his election, Ledesma nominated Ortega for Vice President and Trustee Dr. Alexia Deligianni for Board Clerk. Deligianni was elected by a 7-0 vote, while Ortega was elected 6-1 with Trustee Kathy Moffat voting against Ortega without comment. Moffat did not answer an email request for an explanation of her vote against Ortega.
Before the election for officers, returning trustees Ledesma and Moffat, and the two new OUSD Trustees Diane Singer and Timothy Surridge, were all publicly sworn in after their November election victories. Moffat and Singer were sworn in by Singer’s husband, U.S. Marshal David Singer. Surridge and Ledesma were sworn in by Assemblyman Curt Hagman. Surridge, who defeated Kimberly Nichols for his seat, publicly thanked both Ledesma (who supported Surridge against Nichols), and political advisor Chris Enami for helping him in his election victory. Enami, (who was seated in the audience) ran against Nichols and lost four years ago is the Membership Chair of the Orange-Villa Park Republican Assembly (OVRPA). Orange Unified Trustee Clerk Dr. Deligianni is the President of the OVRPA. The Treasurer of the OVPRA is Chris Nguyen who was lost his bid for the OUSD Area 1 trustee seat in November to Diane Singer.
Also during the December 9th Board Meeting, Deputy Superintendent Michael Christensen gave a legally required update on the current fiscal year’s budget. Known as the First Interim Financial Report, Christensen reported that the district’s conservative budget calculations of state financing of $4941 per student has kept the district on a positive financial footing despite the incoming Governor Jerry Brown’s administrations estimated $ 28 billion shortage in the current state fiscal budget. With the meeting falling a month before Brown released his budget proposals this month, Christensen was uncharacteristically upbeat for a budget report. That attitude maybe well deserved considering that Orange Unified finances are currently one of the best in the county, if not the whole state. Christensen’s role in managing the budget and keeping OUSD solvent and so the communities schools operating smoothly during one of the worst financial crisis in history was recognized at the end of the year by the Greater Orange Communities Organization* . That watchdog group selected Christensen as this year’s Greater Orange Person of the Year (GOPY) award winner. The GOPY is awarded to “the person who’s actions most influenced the Greater Orange Communities” during the pervious year.
* Orange Net News is produced by the Orange Communication System /OCS/ the communication arm of the GOCO.
Surplus Killerfer Site on Closed Session of January 20 Board Meeting
On the Thursday January 20 Board Meeting, the Orange Unified School Board in Closed Session will discuss the sale of the surplus Killerfer Site property at 541 N Lemon Street. The property was on the November 18, 2010 as a resolution, but was pulled without explanation. The Resolution to sell the district’s Killerfer site property as surplus property was not less than $3.4 million.
Other items on the Board Agenda include three Information Items:
• 13A- An update on OUSD’s Three-Year Strategic Plan
• 13B- using Data for Academic Achievement
• 13C- A State Budget Update
INSIDE OUSD Community Donations
The January 20 OUSD Board Agenda pages 6-7 lists $82,918 in community donations. They include: Tustin Toyota- $50.00 in supplies to El Rancho M.S.; Nohl Canyon School Association- $2,094 for a Computer Aide; Jordan PTA- $1500 for transportation costs; Villa Park HS Boys and Girls Tennis Boosters- $2000 for salary stipends; Canyon High School ASB- $2,955 for Cheer Stipends.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
San Francisco trip by Trustees and Superintendent-$10,000
During the December 9th 2010 Board Meeting, Trustees Moffat and Surridge spoke about their attendance at the California School Board Association’s annual convention, held December 2-4 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Six OUSD trustees and Superintendent Dr. Renae Dreier attended the conference. Early registration for the conference was $ 425 per person (registration after the November election was $455 per person) with accompanying spouses free to the conference. Convention room rates for the convention at the San Francisco Marriot Marquius for three nights were $717 and for the W San Francisco $ 589. Air flight and transportation, plus food expense accounts put the conference cost to district taxpayers at well over $10,000 in educational taxes. That brings the total for Watched Tax Dollars to $395,000.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2011: $ 0
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2010: $ 395,000
2010 Attorney Fee Tally:
5/27/10 Dannis, Woliver & Kelley $ 30,000
5/27/10 Parker & Covert $ 55,000
5/27/10 Parker & Covert (to 6/11) $300,000
12/2/10 2010 CSBA- Trustees and Superintendent: $ 10,000
TOTAL $ 395,000
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2009: $1,041,000
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2008: $901,200.00
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00*
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *
* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$32,880.00**
**The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
NEXT BOARD MEETING: 7:00 pm
THURSDAY January 20, 2011 OUSD BOARD ROOM
For AGENDA-CLICK ON AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION- 5:30 pm
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
“Independent Local Insight”
