The State and Local Teachers' Union just bought the CUSD Board of Trustees at a cost of more than $170,000.

The Capistrano Unified Education Association (CUEA, also known as the teachers union) outspent the parent student-centered fiscal conservative candidates during the recent election (2016) by many multiples as noted in this graphic to get their anointed candidates elected to the CUSD Board of Trustees (the same candidates who supported "Measure M", the billion dollar bailout of failed leadership at CUSD).

If CUEA's paid mailers for teachers union funded candidates weren't so misleading the results would have been very different. We got a big win for taxpayers with the defeat of Measure M, but sadly a big loss for the students with the majority voters voting down the non-union, student-centered, taxpayer friendly candidates. Beware voters, the state and local teachers' union just bought the CUSD Board of Trustees at a cost of more than $170,000.

Ask yourself 1) why would this kind of money be spent to defeat dedicated parent candidates who support fiscal prudence and accountability, transparency for the public, improving the special needs program, and strengthening the academic rigor for all students in CUSD, while supporting school choice options for students? and, 2) who do you think these Trustees will be beholden to now that they got elected? Do you think it will be your children and the restoration of cut programs that parents are now forced to fundraise for their "free" education, facilities maintenance and repairs, or smaller class sizes ?...or, teacher salaries and pensions? That's not a trick question. Pay attention voters, many of you were fooled into thinking the teacher's picks were the right choices--they were not.

Thank you supporters

Dear Friends,

Thank you for following my web blog and for supporting my grassroots campaign for the school board. I am grateful to those of you who volunteered countless hours of time and passion to help. I am also grateful to the 8,735 people who cast their ballots for me and I am proud to have earned your votes. Our team gave it our all and ran a great campaign! I am especially proud of the youth who helped out and were able to experience Democracy in action. 

I have taught my own kids that win or lose, it is how you play the game that matters. Our team’s good sportsmanship and perseverance made the experience a positive one. After three-months of campaigning, the outcome is mixed. I am disappointed with the results for the school board race as I did not win against the teacher’s union-funded candidate in which they spent $60,000 on running her campaign. However, I am very pleased to report that Measure M, which I opposed and my opponent supported, was defeated. Our team worked hard in San Clemente walking door-to-door and communicating via email and social media to inform voters of the real facts about Measure M that we felt CUSD was not communicating to the public.  We will not be triple-taxed by Measure M, the $1.8 billion tax increase (the largest bond proposed in OC’s history) because it failed to garner 55% required to pass. 

I ran for office with the goal of creating a more student-centered, taxpayer-friendly board leadership at CUSD, which is profoundly needed. After my years of involvement attending meetings, speaking up and remedying community issues for our taxpayers and students, my experiences and knowledge would have been beneficial in making the school district run better and be more responsive to the people it serves.

I remain hopeful and will not stop trying to make a difference in our community. Positive change takes time.

I will leave this page active so I can share relevant information with you from time to time.

Thank you again for your support and encouragement during this journey.

Warm regards,

Laura Ferguson

 

 

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER EDITORIAL BOARD ENDORSED LAURA FERGUSON FOR CUSD SCHOOL BOARD, TRUSTEE AREA 3

I am pleased to have the Orange County Register Editorial Board's endorsement, having spent an hour there one Friday morning interviewing alongside my opponent for the CUSD school board race for a compare and contrast of sorts on the many issues affecting CUSD. One major issue is the CUSD billion dollar bond, aka Measure M, which my opponent supports and I adamantly oppose as a very bad deal for taxpayers and our children, considering the debt legacy we would leave them should this bad bond measure pass. I am glad the OC Register Editorial Board can see how change is needed on the CUSD school board and gave me their endorsement.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-733494-board-charter.html

Public Policy Institute Article on Prop 51 -- shows just under half support the $9 billion school bond intiative

Here's a good read on Prop 51 and its waning support. Just like Measure M (the biggest bond in OC history) which is similar to CUSD's version of printing money--lots of money that will stick taxpayers with the bill for more than 3 decades. Both Prop 51 and Measure M are a bad deal for taxpayers and if these bonds pass, our schools won't see half of the money it will cost us, yet lawyers, architects, construction workers, Wall Street investors, bond consultants will win big time.  I urge your no vote on Prop 51 and Measure M.

http://disclosurecusd.blogspot.com/2016/11/public-policy-institute-survey-shows.html#!/2016/11/public-policy-institute-survey-shows.html

Hello Friends,

I hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween. Here is one more update before Election Day. I encourage you all to vote and tell your friends to vote and bring much needed change to the CUSD school board. We have a chance to create a student-centered, taxpayer friendly school board that values the voice of the people.  Most of you have followed my emails for three years now and read my updates from the school board meetings I attend regularly, and know I have been a vocal voice for parents, students and taxpayers, speaking out at meetings and remedying community issues that have benefitted our taxpayers and students.  This is the election that can turn CUSD around. We won't have this chance again for 4 more years so vote, and tell your friends to vote (depending on where they live) for Ferguson, Reardon, Vollebregt and Shrove.

Our opponents support the billion dollar bailout of failed leadership at CUSD and are all endorsed and funded by special interests (the teacher's union). The four of us are grassroots candidates not beholden to any special interests. We are vocal opponents of this bond that was rushed over the summer, lacks specificity and has no guarantee that the projects will ever be completed. Word on the street is the teacher's union has allocated over $100,000 to get their anointed candidates elected. We already have 6 of the 7 school board members bought by the union. It is time for some balance so the students, parents and taxpayers have a seat at the table.  Through your vote, you have the power to forge this change.

Orange County Register Editorial Board Endorsement for Laura Ferguson

I am proud to have the OC Register's endorsement, having spent an hour there on October 21st interviewing alongside my opponent for the CUSD school board race for a compare and contrast of sorts on the many issues affecting CUSD. I am glad the OC Register can see how change is needed on the CUSD school board and chose to endorse me over my opponent who favors the billion dollar bailout of failed leadership at CUSD, and does not support school choice for parents and students. Here is the link: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-733494-board-charter.html

Measure M Billion Dollar Tax Increase and the Rancho Mission Viejo Community

I posted on https://www.facebook.com/laurafergusonforcusd/ my opinion about Measure M and the special exemption given to the rich developer, the Rancho Mission Viejo Company whose Mello-Roos taxpayers will avoid this tax, and what this means to the rest of us who were not carved out of this bond, should voters decide to pass this bond measure. I've addressed the board on this matter, stating how this proposal lacked equity and overburdened other Mello-Roos communities whose taxpayers already paid far more than their fair share and in Talega, for example, still have 17 years left to pay off the schools built with Mello-Roos bonds. Here is the gist of it: The secret is out - after connecting the dots, it appears Measure M is a scheme to funnel free, matching State funds to Rancho Mission Viejo to pay for schools in that community that the rest of the CUSD taxpayers will pay for through the Measure M tax to be assessed on properties for 35 Years.

Pay to Play: Backers of Measure M campaign stand to gain millions in contracts

Follow the money voters. Carefully reflect on what (and who) you are voting for and consider the amount of money from special interests backing candidates and measures, like CUSD's Measure M and statewide propositions. Private companies, bond consultants, lawyers, and Wall Street, have a lot to gain on the backs of taxpayers. CUSD has not demonstrated fiscal prudence, nor any desire to live within its means. Trust is broken. Vote NO on M. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/measure-733652-unified-viejo.html?utm_source=dlvr.it

Together we can build a better school district! I appreciate your support this November 8th. Thank you.

Best,

Laura Ferguson for CUSD School Board

Blog: http://laurafergusonforcusd.blogspot.com/

Campaign Email: LauraFergusonforCUSD@gmail.com

Campaign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurafergusonforcusd/

 **PAID FOR BY LAURA FERGUSON FOR CAPISTRANO UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD 2016  FPPC ID#1390047**

 

 

 

The Secret is Out - After connecting the dots, it appears Measure M is a Scheme to Funnel Free, Matching State Funds to Rancho Mission Viejo to Pay for Schools in that Community that the Rest of the CUSD Taxpayers Will Pay for Through the Measure M Tax to be Assessed on Properties for 35 Years.

 

·         The dollar amount of Measure M was dictated at the highest amount by the bond consultant CUSD hired.

 

·         The total dollar amount of Measure M, with interest, is $1.8 BILLION!

 

·         The Measure M tax is assessed against real property and personal property. This means secured and unsecured property such as homes, commercial property, mobile homes, boats, airplanes, improvements on real estate, and business property/fixtures like commercial ovens.

 

·         The Measure M tax will last for 35 years from the date the last bond is sold. (A current 7 year old first grader will be in his/her 50’s when Measure M is paid off, assuming CUSD doesn’t take any steps to extend the bond).

 

·         CUSD taxpayers are still paying off the Measure A bond that was passed in 1999.

 

·         Communities like Ladera & Talega will be tripled taxed if Measure M passes (ad valorem, Mello-Roos & "M").

 

·         CUSD wants to use Measure M to try to obtain up to $229 million in matching state funds that will be provided to CUSD free of charge.

 

·         Rancho Mission Viejo (“RMV”), the newest community in CUSD with the greatest need for schools (none have been built yet) was deliberately excluded from Measure M by CUSD. Senior communities like Costa del Sol (fixed incomes)  and Mello-Roos communities, ie. Ladera and Talega (already paying extra taxes via Mello-Roos) were not excluded.

 

·         Schools built with Ladera & Talega Mello-Roos are already heavily impacted by students from RMV.

 

·         Because RMV was excluded from Measure M, it does not have to pay any Measure M taxes if Measure M passes, but no Measure M funds can be used at or for RMV. However, RMV can receive and use any matching state funds CUSD obtains if Measure M is passed.

 

·         At a SC Times Coffee Chat hosted by CUSD Board President Amy Hanacek on October 21st, she stated that state matching funds obtained by CUSD (if Measure M passes) will be used at RMV though she said she cannot support building new schools when there is no money. She said the RMV Company is heavily backing Prop 51, the statewide school facilities bond ($9B state matching funds for school facilities), and CUSD's Measure M.

 

·         Under this, all of CUSD except RMW will pay Measure M taxes on their real property and personal property for 35 years if Measure M passes. RMV does not have to pay any Measure M taxes, yet it will get,  free of charge, matching state funds up to $229 million obtained by CUSD if Measure M passes.

 

·         Without Measure M there are no matching state funds for CUSD, and no matching state funds for RMV.

 

·         If a School Facilities Improvement District bond is ever formed in RMV, those taxpayer funds will only be able to be spent in the SFID, while the rest of CUSD taxpayer money is in a pot of funds to be shared district-wide.

 

·         Given the millions of free dollars RMV is in line to receive if Measure M passes, it is not surprising the rich and powerful landowner developing RMV is in favor of Measure M and Proposition 51.

 

·         CUSD does not need bond funds to access and spend State matching funds.  CUSD is using the lure of match to sell the Measure M to the community but can then use it on the schools in RMV (excluded from Measure M).

 

VOTE NO ON MEASURE M - There are over a Billion Reasons to do so.

List of Endorsements

for November 8, 2016 Election

 

Mayor Bob Baker, City of San Clemente

Councilmember Lori Donchak, City of San Clemente

Councilmember Tim Brown, City of San Clemente

Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Ward, City of San Clemente

Greg Ward, Retired High School Teacher

Ret. Mayor (2012) Jim Evert, City of San Clemente

Assemblyman Bill Brough, Assembly District 73

Senator Pat Bates, Senate District 36

Board Trustee Linda Lindholm, Orange County Board of Education

Gloria Romero, Ret. State Senator/Chair of Senate Education Committee

The Republican Party of Orange County

The Lincoln Club of Orange County

The Orange County Charter Schools PAC

South Orange County Economic Coalition PAC (Econ PAC)

Vice President Jim Reardon, CUSD Board of Trustees

Mayor Frank Ury, City of Mission Viejo

Mayor Tony Beall, City of Rancho Santa Margarita

Mayor Mike Munzing, City of Aliso Viejo

Councilmember Brad McGirr, City of Rancho Santa Margarita

Mayor Pam Patterson, City of San Juan Capistrano

Ellen Addonizio, Former Trustee, Capistrano Unified School District

Wayne Eggleston, Ret. Mayor and Councilmember of San Clemente and Executive Director of The Heritage of San Clemente Foundation

The Orange County Register Editorial Board

President Andrea Ewell, Talega Maintenance Corporation HOA Board
 

Marc Veale

Susie Hatton

Laura Ginn

Debbie Flowers

Jason's Glass Tint

Amanda Earnest

Don and Bev Glasgow

Randy Goeken

Brenda Anderson

Eric Ettlin

Allison Singer

Joey Santley 

Mike and Linda Ray

Dawn Urbanek

Sofia Fligiel

Dawn Urbanek

Sharon Campbell

Jim Shaw

Stacy Reynolds

Barry Reynolds 

 

 Join the campaign by endorsing Laura Ferguson for

CUSD School Board, Trustee Area 3

Visit and "Like" my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/laurafergusonforcusd/

   
THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR VOTER APATHY

Do your homework. There’s a lot at stake.

Voter apathy has been growing for years. If ever there was a time to get out the vote that time is now. I’ve grown tired of the status quo school board at Capistrano Unified School District. How about you?  I’ve attended meetings for 3 consecutive years, speaking out for the students, parents and taxpayers. I’m a grassroots candidate not beholden to any special interests. I have fought for the taxpayers and remedied major abuses alongside my fellow taxpayers in Talega despite CUSD fighting against us. I have mobilized parents for school choice efforts that are not easy to do considering the anti-school choice climate of the current school board.
 

My opponent Ms. Holloway, who is backed and funded by the teacher’s union has been absent on the campaign trail, not engaged in CUSD issues and absent from school board meetings too. She has been involved in protecting trees in San Clemente through her foundation, not CUSD education and taxpayer issues. Trees are a noble cause, but our district has serious issues to tend to such as declining student enrollment (400 less kids this fiscal year), low math and ELA test scores, low four-year college readiness rates of 53% (should students choose this path), neglect of deferred facilities maintenance for 15+ years, and more. If you elect me, you will get an informed, passionate parent who has followed these issues, and who will be accountable to you, will bring fresh ideas and conservative fiscal leadership and who will value parents’ rights and education choices.

If you elect my opponent, you get the status quo who is running because the teacher’s union talked her into it last minute since they had no candidate and did not want me to run unchallenged.  After the August 30^th CUSD school board special meeting, Trustee Gila Jones came over to chat with me and my friends and in our conversation I asked her what made my opponent want to run for school board. Her response was that they were friends and she had applied for a vacant seat on the school board years ago. She did not get the appointment. Make no bones about it, my opponent will uphold the union’s agenda and what that means is the students will not be first priority. My opponent also supports the billion dollar bond.  

Another reason why new board leadership is necessary is the lack of sincere communication with the public. In order to build a partnership with parents and students, CUSD has to be honest and trustworthy. Just look at how CUSD currently communicates with its communities:

 

We are told by CUSD that it is the #1 performing school district in the state, when the school district, in recent years ranked around #40 out of all school districts statewide. Still not bad considering there are 900 school districts, but CUSD is not #1.
 

We are told the tax on the ballot is $889 million when it’s really going to cost taxpayers $1.8 billion.  CUSD also is not telling us that after the barrage of consultants get their fees and all the interest is paid, brick and mortar schools will only get about $500 million of this money. We will be bearing the consequences of this mega bond for 35 years, as will our children.

We are told that all schools are going to get something when some schools, possibly even many schools will get nothing at all but we will all pay the price for 35 years. Mello-Roos communities which are still paying on multiple bonds and have 15+ years before paying these off will be triple taxed and with the newer schools, will get nothing.

We are told CUSD wants to engage the community when instead they handpick agreeable people to serve on the district’s token committees, shame parents who speak out for school choice and submit charter applications, publicly berate parents who catch a board member doing something contrary to the law, threaten to sue elected officials who disagree with the board’s views and positions, and hire consultants and lawyers to fight the taxpayers when those very taxpayers discover the district hoarding and misspending millions in taxpayer dollars.

This behavior is killing the performance of our district. It is damaging the image of our district. We now have a district that shows a refusal to engage in the process of governing in the best interest of the people, and refuses to actively seek out participants in their issues so we cannot ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the students and taxpayers who reside in the 7 cities and unincorporated communities they are elected to serve.

We want the best people to win but often we are all too busy to educate ourselves on the issues or research who is behind the candidates who are running for office. Voters should pay attention during election years—and, especially this year with billions in new tax increases on this ballot. Take some time to read and educate yourself on the issues and the candidates and only then can we ever forge real change.  The status quo has to go. We can do better!

 IT IS TIME TO RID OF THE CHRONIC MISMANAGEMENT AT CUSD

Vote In New School Board Members Who Will Put The Students And Taxpayers First

 It is time all of the communities in CUSD come together and vote for school board members who prioritize student learning, are fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, and continuously look for ways to involve parent and taxpayers in identifying the district's vision and priorities. 

Ask yourself, how does your school board member measure up?  All but Vice President/CUSD Trustee Jim Reardon voted to place the union's choice for a $1.8 billion tax on the ballot without any community outreach or any reasonable or exhaustive effort to truly be specific about the projects needed.  The board had initially considered smaller, more manageable bonds by area at the first couple of  meetings I attended on this subject this summer. And, now that the big mega bond is officially on the ballot, the district is not even trying to be transparent with the community on how much this bond will cost taxpayers or how long this 35+ year tax will last on its consultant-crafted bond marketing materials on display at all CUSD schools.  

The boards of CUSD PTSAs have even come out in support of this bond, behaving like activists for the union.  Their positions of this political nature should require a vote of its membership. I would bet they would not be passing resolutions supporting this mega bond.  I wonder too, if as a non-profit fundraising organization, if they should even be taking a position at all?  Regardless, their support is not a unified position without membership input, although no different from the current CUSD board who makes decisions without notifying or engaging the community. The district's push pull survey it conducted on this bond does not count.  It was not a legitimate survey as it was purely political and crafted to create a desired outcome for the district.

Rather than function responsibly and show an effort to get its own fiscal house in order, CUSD instead cries for more tax money. Did you know already more than half of every property tax dollar we pay goes to fund education? Did you know San Clemente property taxpayers send more than $50 million to CUSD every year? It is clear San Clemente has not been well represented on this school board and if you vote for the union endorsed candidate you will get more of the same neglect. It is time to rid of the chronic mismanagement and lack of concern for the taxpaying public and vote in a new school board majority who are not beholden to special interests.  Visit the pages of these student-centered, taxpayer friendly candidates to follow and support their campaigns. "Like" them on Facebook too.

https://www.facebook.com/laurafergusonforcusd/

 https://www.facebook.com/WendyShroveForCUSD/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/jakefortrustee/?fref=ts

http://www.votereardon.com/

ENGAGING DISCUSSION AT FRIDAY'S BEACHSIDE CHAT WHERE I SERVED AS GUEST SPEAKER

I appreciate the San Clemente Times for hosting the September 23rd Beachside Chat at Cafe Calypso and inviting me to be their guest speaker. It was a good turnout with a lively discussion about my candidacy for school board and issues related to CUSD, including the billion dollar bond (Measure M) the school board placed on the November ballot. I shared this morning, that I had hoped for my opponent to join me so the discussion can be balanced with the candidates' opposing viewpoints, but she did not respond to multiple requests by the Editor.

I thank everyone for coming out to participate. In the spirit of Democracy, it was healthy to have people attend today who support me and what I stand for, and those who oppose me, especially as it pertained to CUSD's billion dollar bond/tax proposal and my ideas to get CUSD's financial house in order. I stated that government should not borrow from the future to pay for today's needs. Our children and grandchildren will be on the hook for paying this back.
I shared my experience with the over-taxation of Mello-Roos taxpayers and that this is an important example of how CUSD misused and mismanaged taxpayer dollars illegally and unfairly. Someone said but I bought in Mello-Roos so I should deal with it. I said I signed up to pay Mello-Roos, my fair share and not $60 million more which is what our citizens group remedied from being overtaxed by CUSD. Why would this $1.8 billion bond be any different?

I shared how I believe CUSD needs to live within its means, stop wasting taxpayer dollars on a myriad of consultants, look to its surplus land which is unused, evaluate under-enrolled schools and see what can be done to consolidate administrations to be more fiscally prudent and free up money to repair facilities so we are not financing maintenance repairs for 35 years, and better prioritize the $430 million it receives each year in taxpayer dollars so that the students also win (ie. restore programs and reduce class sizes). Only then, if the facilities needs cannot be met should the school board consider a bond, and it should then only be a bond by area, with specified projects addressed so that residents can actually keep watch over how the funds will be spent. I also said CUSD, in its efforts to attain $229 million in state matching funds should the $9 billion statewide school facilities bond pass (Prop. 51) could have started its process with a smaller bond proposal to build trust with the communities (which is lacking) and work to demonstrate fiscal accountability by selecting high schools with the greatest needs, ie. SCHS and DHHS and seek a $229 million bond and still be eligible to apply for the state match, should voters pass this.

Further I said the process should not be rushed over the summertime in just 4 months. It should involve far more time and involve the community and get it right with specificity of projects and concrete cost estimates which do not exist with the current bond proposal, that is opposed by every trusted Mayor in South OC, and opposed by our Senator, Assemblymember, OC Supervisor, and State Board of Equalization member representative.

I said this bond is too big to manage, too big for taxpayers to track, and taxpayers will be disappointed just like they were with Measure A which promised a lot of the same things, that were never done. I added, there are no guarantees the projects will be completed as disclaimers are noted on CUSD literature advocating for the projects in this bond. I also shared the list of construction, architects, and others already donating to the "Yes on M" campaign because of all the millions they have to gain should this billion dollar tax pass. I concluded by reading comments from the LA Times article about how the Governor is opposing the "developers" $9 billion school facilities bond stating he has nothing good to say about it including the construction industry's role as the proposition's main financier. And that the governor says it will promote sprawl and continue an inequitable system based on which school districts get to the application line the fastest, not which ones need it the most.