Capistrano Unified School District parents are frustrated over what they say is a lack of transparency surrounding the Board of Education’s decision to fire its superintendent “without cause” in a special meeting called just days before Christmas.
After spending most of the Dec. 21 meeting in closed session, trustees voted 4–3 to terminate Kirsten Vital Brulte’s contract effective Dec. 31 after she served for eight years as superintendent. Her contract was originally set to end in 2026.
Trustees Michael Parham and Gary Pritchard—who were elected to the board in November—voted to terminate the superintendent along with Krista Castellanos and Amy Hanacek, while trustees Gila Jones, Lisa Davis and Judy Bullockus dissented….