THE LATEST: Two newly elected trustees were sworn in at a special meeting of the Capistrano Unified School District board Tuesday night. San Juan Capistrano resident Sue Palazzo and Aliso Viejo resident Ken Maddox, a former state assemblyman, took their oaths in front of a smaller-than-usual audience.
Trustee Ellen Addonizio, who was elected board president at the meeting, swore in the new board members, who take the place of recalled trustees Sheila Benecke and Marlene Draper. Former board president and vice president Mike Darnold and Duane Stiff weren’t at the meeting. They were on previously scheduled vacations, as was Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter. The five trustees in attendance also named Anna Bryson the new vice president and Larry Christensen the new clerk.
There were no public comments from those who opposed the recall, which ousted Benecke and Draper, who served for 16 and 20 years respectively. The new trustees thanked their friends and family members for their support, and emphasized their desire for the district to enter a new era of openness, honesty, integrity, quality education and fiscal responsibility.
“It’s time to get past the differences and the disputes, and it’s time to return the focus to the children,” Maddox said.
WHAT’S NEXT: The two new trustees are up for re-election in November, as are Darnold and Stiff.
FIND OUT MORE: Stay tuned. —Lacey Nadeau

