Comments of the Week in South OC

School Performance Scores Dip in CUSD and Countywide

Patch reported the majority of school districts in the county and 45 of Capo Unified's 54 schools saw declines. Commenters had a discussion about Oxford Preparatory Academy in Mission Viejo, which was last year’s top performing elementary school. But one comment focused on one parent's strategy to help her son's score this year. Thoughts on what you will do?

shelly August 29, 2013 at 04:26 PM My son's scores dropped in some disciplines and increased in others. But the responsibility of the drop falls on my family and us not monitoring their social media and my sons mismanaging their time. And before anyone blasts me I am speaking only of our family. With instagram, vine, facebook and ipods and sports my sons attention to their schoolwork suffered this year. Ipods will be only accessible on the weekends this school year and one sport at a time. It was a life lesson for us all.

Shripathi Kamath August 30, 2013 at 12:26 PM"Comparing schools by standardized test results is useless unless demographics and parent requirements are identical." _____________________________________________________ No. By that token comparing all tests results are useless unless all other factors are held constant, which naturally would yield no useful information ever. On the contrary, we can definitely say that the students districts with higher scores are performing better than at other districts with lower scores. That is what the test scores are meant to tell you. What you cannot conclude from that however is that the students are less intelligent at one place, teachers are better at another place than the other, or that there were no factors contributing to the scores other than the educational system. Other things need to be measured for that. ___________________________________________________ In other words, test scores alone are not enough to pronounce judgment on a district, and certainly not when the differences are minuscule. _____________________________________________________ SVUSD and CUSD seem to have done about as well as they did last. There is the exchange in the comments with Penny at http://bit.ly/15c58RN which sheds light on how these tests scores are to be seen. Supposedly they are massaged in the spring, dressed in the winter or something. I stopped after I looked at last year's scores, found that the SVUSD had actualy seen a mild improvement (ignore the headline that says the opposite) and CUSD (including OPA) basically held ground. The ones that are alarming are the largish drops. _____________________________________________________ In general, we are seeing pretty much a holding pattern: flat. Schools like Linda Vista Elementary, Del Lago Elementary, Viejo Elementary, Las Palmas Elementary... are of concern, though. Not only did they decline sharply, their scores were low enough as an absolute measure.

Man Identified in Fatal Crash on the 241

Patch reported Cole Smith, 21, of Foothill Ranch was identified early Tuesday by the Orange County Coroner as the person ejected from the SUV he was driving after it drifted off the road and rolled over. Commenters were offering their thoughts and prayers to the family. One shared a link to an online memorial in his honor.

Scott Hodson August 27, 2013 at 01:59 PM Memories, stories, pictures and other information can be shared on Cole's memorial site at http://cole-allen-smith.forevermissed.com/

Cyclist In Critical Condition After Darting In Front of Truck

Patch reported a 34-year-old man was taken by ambulance to Mission Hospital after apparently darting in front of a truck going eastbound on Rancho Santa Margarita's main drag. One commenter shared a recent-close call with a bicyclist. What have you noticed on the roads?

another mom August 29, 2013 at 08:07 AM If he was wearing a helmet, I would have thought it was the man I almost hit the other day. I had the green arrow to turn left at the Dove Canyon waterfall. He came out of the Coto gate as I was beginning to turn. He rode as quickly as he could in front of me. I slammed on my brakes and honked my horn. He flashed a peace sign at me. You can imagine what I wanted to flash right back at him. My husband and I are avid cyclists and have been for over 30 years. Forgetting that a bike is subject to the same traffic laws as a car is the quickest way to get yourself killed. There's no protective bubble around you on a bike. The cars are bigger, so don't challenge them, especially when they have the right of way--they'll win every time. I hope the rider recovers from his injuries, and I very sorry for what the driver of the truck will have to live with since it sounds like he wasn't at fault.

State Grants CUSD Relief for Sandy Hook-Related Absences

Patch reported low attendance didn't occur until seven days later after the rampage and a sheriff's official blamed Facebook rumors. Commenters debated whether the absences were truly attributed to the tragedy.

Morgan August 29, 2013 at 09:43 AM This is just silly...there's a drop in attendance EVERY year before winter break. I'm disappointed in capo unified for capitalizing on what was a national tragedy

M August 29, 2013 at 11:20 AM I say if you can get Cusd then take it! Gov. Brown is proposing 315 million prison expansio, that is sure to take money away from schools and other services.

Letter: What's that Booming Sound?

Booming sounds were heard in some parts of Mission Viejo. Patch offered the most likely answer: munitions training at Camp Pendelton. One reader had a very different idea. 

Stephanie August 29, 2013 at 01:48 PM I heard them all the time & I live between Los alisos en mustang run. As at residence I would like at explanation too. The booming sound sometimes is soooo strong that I felt that we are going to war since the sound is loud & scary. I don't think is the based since is far from our location, sometimes I feel that they are creating something underground & they don't want to tell us....