Supt. Daem honored for fight against cuts

Mike Swanson

Supt. Theresa Daemreceived flowers and enveloped “tokens” from two

school association presidents Tuesday as resounding thanks for her

tireless work in making Gov. Gray Davis aware of Laguna Beach and

other basic-aid districts.

The entire district celebrated Davis’ removal of the basic-aid

proposal in his May 15 revised budget, which added more than $4

million to the interim budget grudgingly approved by the school board

in April.

Melinda Grace, president of chapter 131 of the California School

Employees Assn., and Dawn Mirone, president of the Laguna Beach

Unified Faculty Assn., singled out Daem for her incredible leadership

and compassion throughout the potential crisis.

“I could have lost the bond measure myself by doing something

inept,” Daem said, “but I couldn’t have won it by doing something

outstanding. This is something we accomplished together.”

Grace gave Daem an envelope with contents intended to allow Daem

to “relax for a while,” Grace said.

Mirone countered with a bouquet of flowers and a similar envelope,

but one she hoped would not force Daem into relaxation.

“Hopefully this token will go toward lots of double lattes to keep

you full of energy and applying pressure,” Mirone said.

Davis is supposed to release the final budget by July 1.

Board clerk El Hathaway said he heard Sacramento received 57,000

faxes from Laguna Beach in the last few months, a deluge campaign

urged on by Daem since the early March school board meeting that

approved several preliminary layoffs.

Grace said the entire process taught a valuable lesson to everyone

in the community, including her children:

“You can fight the system and fairness can triumph.”