(Orange County, CA) – In a recent filing, Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig L. Griffin affirmed that OUSD’s budget has a structural deficit and that only 46% of students are performing at grade level.

“This is a significant victory for those of us seeking change at OUSD,” said Ivan Kokos - whose ballot statement pointed out the structural deficit, “Now the court agrees that the OUSD budget shows a structural deficit.” Kokos ballot statement now reads that the OUSD budget “shows” a structural deficit, with a small correction from the original language which said the budget “called for” a structural deficit.

“At the end of the day, it’s about making sure the public has accurate information,” said Crystal Miles. She and Jack Chang both updated their ballot statements to reflect the verified figure of 46% of students performing at grade level in math, correcting the earlier estimate of approximately 40% that opponents have attempted to mischaracterize. “Having the courts agree that over half our students are falling behind speaks to why we need change,” stated Jack Chang, “we should expect more from our OUSD leadership.”

OUSD has shown test results that are well below the Orange County averages in the last several years according to the California Department of Education’s own data.

Another challenging factor for OUSD is declining enrollment - a problem that is plaguing the district’s budget projections.

“Ultimately parents are voting with their feet,” stated Chip Ahlswede who is also running for OUSD this November, “by going to private schools, having thousands of kids on waiting lists for charter schools, and by opting to homeschool their kids - parents have had enough of OUSD’s underperformance - and we can do better. We are glad the courts agree.”

Rarely do challenges to ballot statements such as these end up supporting the assertions being made by candidates, but in this case the court ruled fairly and accurately that the budgetary and testing performance of the OUSD board is an issue for parents and voters to consider.

Orange Unified School District includes the cities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Villa Park, and portions of Santa Ana and Garden Grove.

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