CUSD Issues
I am running for school board because CUSD faces several serious issues and needs strong, experienced leadership to reset CUSD on the right path.
If I am elected, I intend to focus on rebuilding CUSD to the school district it once was.
I will continue to report to and be responsible for our greater community, I will be transparent, and I will provide strong leadership.
Toxic Culture including Antisemitism
Only a few weeks ago, after a Federal investigation, there was a finding against CUSD for antisemitism. This is a serious failure by the board of which you probably heard little about. It is unacceptable that the leadership at Carmel schools allowed for an environment where students and staff members were treated poorly due to religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds. The buck stops with the school board and it was a complete fail by the board that needs to be reviewed and corrected internally by fresh leadership.
Fiscal Mismanagement
CUSD revenues are over $84M annually most revenues come from real estate taxes from CUSD residents. Due to our real estate values and tax rates, CUSD is one of the wealthiest school districts in the world. Yet, the current CUSD board has failed as a steward of our tax dollars and CUSD is now in a budgetary crisis. This is not surprising if you look at the collective background of the current board. They are not equipped experience or education wise to manage an $84M budget on behalf of our greater community.
Turmoil in Leadership
In the past five years, CUSD has lost 4 principals. River School Elementary, one of CUSD’s crown jewels in education, is on its third principal in 3 years and its historically high rankings have dropped significantly. In the past nine years, CUSD has gone through 7 superintendents. There is strength in stability, and the CUSD board is letting our students, families and community down with the revolving door in our top administrative team at CUSD.
CUSD Dropping in Ranking Affects Propery Values
In 2017, US News and World Report, ranked Carmel High School at 199 th in the nation and 21 st in California, making CUSD one of the top high schools in the world. The rankings under current leadership have plummeted and in 2024 CHS is ranked 416 th in the nation and 58 th in the state. Housing prices in our community have benefited from historically strong rankings. High property values, corresponding taxes, managed stewarded by an experienced, responsible board has been the historical formula for a world class school district. We are lacking strong, qualified leadership and our formula is broken.
