Open-meetings law violation is alleged

Trustees of the Capistrano Unified School District, long plagued by allegations of mismanagement including criminal indictments against a former superintendent and his assistant, are once again arguing about a familiar subject: violation of the state’s open-meeting law.

In a news release issued this week, trustees Ellen Addonizio, Anna Bryson and Larry Christensen accused the board of violating the Brown Act by hiding “critical information they knew should have been made available to the public” in a discussion about construction of a high school football stadium during a closed session Monday.

Trustee Marlene M. Draper denied any wrongdoing and suggested the three accusers had violated the Brown Act in making their accusation. “I am concerned that they may have violated the law by disclosing information about potential legal issues from a closed session,” she said.

The exchange occurred after board President Mike Darnold called the closed session to discuss potential litigation. State law allows elected officials to meet privately in certain circumstances, such as addressing legal matters.

But the trustees discussed construction of a proposed football stadium at San Juan Hills High School, according to participants on both sides.

Bryson said the closed session did not involve potential litigation and therefore should have taken place in front of the public. But Draper said a lawyer was present and that legal issues were discussed.

Addonizio, Bryson and Christensen have asked for an investigation of the matter by the Orange County district attorney’s office, which, according to a statement from D.A. spokeswoman Susan Schroeder, is taking it “very seriously.”

In October, the district attorney’s office found that trustees had routinely violated state law by meeting privately to discuss construction contracts, the silencing of a district critic and how to prepare parents for bad news about schools.

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my-thuan.tran@latimes.com