CUSD Trustees to Consider Opening Extracurricular Activities to Underperforming Students

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Students who currently have lower than a 2.5 or 2.0 GPA—or have reported behavioral issues—may be prohibited from participating in school clubs, athletics, and other extracurricular activities.

Trustees with the Capistrano Unified School District are exploring a proposal to remove that barrier, which would allow underperforming students to participate in clubs and activities outside the classroom so they could feel more connected to their schools and communities.

Trustee Gila Jones brought forth a request to revise the district’s policy on extracurricular admission standards, which went through a first hearing on April 19. District staff and trustees will work out exact details on the new policy, which will come back before the Board of Trustees for final approval.

“The idea of withholding participation in pleasurable activities from those who have poor attitudes represents an antiquated and flawed understanding of human motivation,” Jones said. “Of our students who have been expelled and have long discipline records, what percentage are involved in school or community activities? I don’t know for sure, but probably not many.”

“How does restricting students with low grades from participating in school activities make them happy? How does it motivate them to get better grades?” and other relevant parties during the design and construction phases.

The project’s overall cost will include a budgeted $555,000 from the recent sale of city-owned land, with an additional $250,000 proposed to be included in the upcoming 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget.

The Arguello Way work is “minor in scope,” with some hardscape and landscape improvements, Toman said.

A motion by Mayor Howard Hart for the project to go before the Planning Commission and Design Review Committee for committee feedback failed in

Jones said. “How does it motivate them to want to come to school? I don’t believe it does. I believe students with low grades are precisely the ones who need to be encouraged to participate in activities.”

Trustee Michael Parham said encouraging children is a better approach with kids instead of punishing them. He told stories of academically underperforming kids he knew growing up who either felt a lack of purpose after not being allowed to continue playing school sports or who felt they belonged after being permitted to play in the school band.

Trustee Amy Hanacek said a 2.0 GPA is “not hard to get” and having a student in a student government organization doesn’t help if they don’t end up graduating.

“First and foremost, we’ve got to have young people graduating able to read, to do basic math, and to be able to go out in the world and feel well about themselves,” Hanacek said.

Some underperforming students don’t a split, 2-2, vote. Hart and Councilmember John Campbell voted yes on the motion, while Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias and Councilmember Troy Bourne voted no. go to school and may not be drawn to extracurricular activities, Hanacek said.

Councilmember John Taylor recused himself from the discussion.

“I’d like to see this go through,” Farias said.

City staff did not send the Arguello Way project to other city committees beforehand, because the work is similar to the Verdugo Street beautification, which had gone through committee review.

“There are ways to capture students and make them feel connected,” Hanacek said. “We need to start sooner with our elementary school kids that know there’s a seat at the table for them.”

Trustee Judy Bullockus said some students may not be able to make high grades but possess some other talent.

“I don’t think we have teachers that will start letting kids with just a 1.0 come hang out and fill the seats,” Bullockus said. “I think our teachers are good enough to be discerning about giving that student a break because (they) see it within them, but might need to be the one to pull it out of them.”

In other CUSD news, a request by Trustee Lisa Davis to explore alternatives to the California Healthy Kids Survey— which asks students about aspects of their life and health, including drug use and mental health—was tabled until a September meeting.

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OBITUARY Adaline (Addie) Reenders Brown

July 3, 1924 - April 11, 2023

After 98 years of a life filled with love, laughter, special friendships, and professional and personal accomplishments, our mom, Addie, passed away on April 11th in San Clemente, California.

She is survived by her 3 children, David (Chris) Reenders of San Clemente, Steven (Jan) Reenders of San Clemente, and Christine (John) Drake of Marina Del Rey. She was the adored Grandma Cookie to her 8 grandchildren, Jeff Reenders (Kelly), Annika Lawrence (Brett), Ellie Servais (Elliott), Matthew Drake (Lindsey), Michael Drake (Sandy), Andrew Reenders (Julie), Emily Brockman (Harvey), and Rachel Devany (Vinny) and Great Grandma Cookie to her 14 great grandchildren, Brooks, Wiley, Noe, Nolan, Blair, Kevy, Hutch, Cord, Noah, Kawena, Makenna, Chenzo, Soren and Emilia.

Addie was preceded in death by our dad, Neil Reenders as well as her second husband Colin Brown, her parents Billy and Georgia Clark, her brother Larry Clark, and her beloved nephew Randy Clark.

During World War Two she worked for the Army Corps of Engineers and attended the University of Redlands. After graduating she became a teacher and taught first grade for 25 years in the Covina Valley Unified school District.

She retired to San Clemente in 1972 where she volunteered for numerous charitable organizations, played golf and bridge, spent hours in the sun getting the best tan, and sailed the Pacific in their Ericson 27 sailboat. She loved to travel and over the years, along with dear friends and family, she went all around the world. She was a dancer and piano player from her early childhood well into her nineties. Tap, ballet, ballroom, or the Highland Fling, if there was music playing she was dancing!

Addie’s life was so full of wonderful and enriching experiences but what she cherished the most and gave her the greatest joy was her family. She was the best mom and grandma to all of us and she will be loved, missed, and remembered always.

A Celebration of Addie’s life will be announced in the near future.