This is a news release emailed from CUSD Trustee Ken Lopez-Maddox:

CUSD Leads The Way In Cutting The Board of Trustees Sets New Standard For EfficiencyAliso Viejo, CA-CUSD’s teachers' union has attempted to mislead parents into thinking the District has spent more money on Administration when in fact, there have been tremendous reductionsCapistrano Unified School District operates a lean and flexible Administrative office. For far too long, CUSD operated a bloated and top heavy district office.

"We’ve cut the Office of the Superintendent down from 14 positions to 4," said Trustee Ken Lopez-Maddox "This has resulted in a minimum on going savings of $788,849 per year."

The transition leadership team of interim staffing and consultants have brought vast experience to CUSD at a savings of over $500,000. This transitional leadership team is at a cost savings due to no health benefits, no vacation pay, no retirement and less per day earnings. This half million dollar savings is in addition to the nearly $1 million on-going savings listed above.

On top of that, the Capistrano Unified Management Association graciously accepted a 10% cut to their pay. The savings was used to continue funding of Class Size Reduction for first grade. CSR funding was cut as a consequence of the state budget. The savings hasn’t stopped there. The Superintendent’s office has realized a one-time savings of a minimum of $200,000 since March due to keeping positions temporarily unfilled.

The union backed recall effort against Trustee Winston and me stems from the inability of recall leaders to do basic first grade math. "The State of California has significantly cut our budget. This means cuts have to be made", said Lopez-Maddox, “no one likes it but it has to be done."