Greater Orange News Service

With no 2014 Bond placement  vote yet and growing concern...

OUSD Bond Supporters plan protest at Special Session OUSD Board meeting

The 2014 Orange Bond supporters from C.A.R.E (Community Advancement through Renovation for Education ) are planning to stage a quiet protest at the Orange Unified Special Meeting  on Monday June 16, 2014 (starting time 7:30 pm).  The plan to wear black and bring signs supporting moving forward on a 2014 OUSD Bond measure to the June 16th Special Meeting is to bring attention to what is perceived as a slow down in the  momentum of the district toward placing a facilities Bond on the 2014 November ballot.

The C.A.R.E. Facebook page June 12 post stated:

ATTENTION BOND SUPPORTERS!

CARE is appalled and thoroughly frustrated to discover the school board president has failed to place a vote on calling for a November high school facilities bond measure on Monday night’s agenda. We made numerous requests to have this matter placed on the agenda and, clearly and inexplicably, we have been ignored. No explanation has been provided for the sudden change in direction on pursuing a high school facilities improvement bond. This is unacceptable! Thousands of people have given their time and energy both helping to create the master site plans and appearing in support of a bond at the various school board meetings. The board’s inaction is a slap in the face given the indisputable need to improve our high schools, the swell of community support in favor of improving the high schools through a bond measure, and the thousands of hours dedicated community members have already devoted to this cause. Without the board voting to put the bond on the November ballot, we are unable to begin our campaign to get this bond passed. Our kids need this NOW, not later. We do not have time to wait until it’s politically convenient for the board to act. 

We need to make our message loud and clear to the school board that NOW is the time for the board to call for a bond to be placed on the November 2014 ballot. We will not tolerate further delays, last minute objections, and eleventh hour excuses. Tell them to show some leadership and do what is right for our children!

With an August 8th deadline to approve a Bond for the 2014 November ballot, sources close to the CARE leadership report growing frustration at the pace to approve a 2014 Bond measure tied to concerns that the slow pace may have to do with internal Board political maneuvering. Insider reports at the lack of communication with the CARE leadership has also been a cause for concern.

Long time OUSD sources also reveal that disappointment in the cryptic nature of the June 16th Agenda Special Meeting dealing with the evaluation of popular OUSD Superintendent Michael Christiansen and the single Action Item on the agenda to "Cancel the Current RFQ/P for the Project/Construction Management Services".

At the May 8th OUSD Board meeting Trustee Kathy Moffat called for board policies in place for Board members and staff to protect against conflict of interest in regards to a Bond.  Moffat at the end of the meeting made a compelling case for safeguards to assure transparency and above board conduct as OUSD asks the community to trust the district with  tax dollars to upgrade the high schools. 

As an example, Moffat revealed that OUSD Board President John Ortega and Trustee Timothy Surridge attended a meeting of potential Bond "vendors and bidders".   Moffat states:

"I was quite disturbed to hear that at a large meeting, where many potential vendors and bidders for a contract-two of our Board members went.  Mr. Ortega and Mr. Surridge, they went to the meeting. There is no role for Board members at the meeting. They addressed the meeting. There is no reason for that.  I think that is part of an improper role for a Board member to play and we haven't even begun yet."

Moffat stated she was working with the Superintendent to bring forward new Board Policies ahead of the Bond election vote.  

After Moffat's call to add new conflict of interest Board Policies, President Ortega-who  earlier in the meeting tangled with Moffat over a Consent Item to pay absent OUSD Board Member Mark Wayland his stipend for missing the meeting ( the item to pay him failed on a 3-1-3 vote with Moffat voting no and three Board members absent-Singer, Wayland and Surridge)  closed the meeting stating:

"All I can say is those who a live in glass house should not throw stones- I adjourn this meeting".

NEXT OUSD BOARD MEETING Monday June 16, 2014

Next OUSD Board Meeting -OUSD District Office

CLOSED SESSION- 6:30 pm

OUSD Regular Session: 7:30 pm

For AGENDA-CLICK ON: AGENDA
http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/board/pdf/2014/agenda0616.pdf

For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040

For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015

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