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THURSDAY, MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019
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VOL. 23, NO. 10
CHARTER SCHOOLS DEMAND INCLUSION AS PASADENA DEVELOPS SCHOOL FUNDING PRIORITIES
John ORONA john.orona@gmail.com
C
harter school parents flooded the Pasadena City Council with emails, calls and comments on Monday, demanding that revenue from last year’s sales tax increase go toward funding public charter schools. During the special joint meeting between the City Council and Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), the two bodies presented an outline for using Measure J money and discussed creating a standing joint subcommittee between the city and PUSD to oversee the funds. With the passage of Measures I and J in 2018, Pasadena raised sales tax rates by 0.75
percent and pledged one-third of those funds for public schools — but many parents say they feel duped now that it’s clear the money will only go toward PUSD and not charter schools. “When our Pasadena families read the language of Measure J, they assumed that all kids would benefit from that,” Kate Bean, founder and executive director of Aveson Charter Schools said. “When I was in the voting booth it just never occurred to me that [the money] wasn’t going to go to all kids who are public school students.” Although charter schools are not part of the district, they are technically public schools that receive public funding and are overseen by the state and district through their charter agreements. SEE CHARTER SCHOOLS PAGE 11
Marshall Fundamental is one of a few schools in the Pasadena Unified School District that offers grades 6-12 within the same educational site. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
Group Organizing Recall of Pasadena Councilman Concedes Defeat Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
Last week, a group called Pasadenans and Altadenans Against Police Violence announced it was joining the recall effort against Councilmember
Victor Gordo. This followed a bizarre exchange of emails between Shaun Szameit, owner of the Golden State Collective that was busted in December, and Councilman Gordo. Some of those SEE DEFEAT PAGE 10
Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System Available Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
After last week’s 9 block Pasadena police containment area searching for a murder suspect, citizens were anxious with the heavy police presence and helicopters circling attempting to tack down the
suspect who critically stabbed an apartment manager on Euclid Street. Many had to shelter in place including a local school that was locked down while officers attempted to apprehend the man. To that end, Pasadena offers a unique system for SEE SYSTEM PAGE 11
PUSD’s March 15 Deadline Looms Heavy for Some Local Educators Pasadena Unified School District Thursday evening may have to issue 32-plus full time teachers and other employees’ pink slips. It’s important to note that the approval of reductions in staffing were part of the Fiscal Stabilization Plan (FSP) approved in December 2018, reductions because of declin-
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ing enrollment, and non-reelected probationary employees. It is part of the process of what PUSD already cut, not new cuts. However, for some, the reality is just now about to sink in. It's the FSP taking effect in time to meet the March 15 SEE PUSD PAGE 10
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