'Dena Politico

¡Muchas Gracias!

2007-06-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

thank you all so much, whoever came out and voted not only for me, but for my opponent sarah fuller as well. yr participation in this beautiful community's town council election is greatly appreciated and duly noted.
i am in washington, DC, right now and will be unreachable starting tomorrow, june 27, until july 9, because i will be undergoing a silent meditation in shelburne, massechusetts. i hope everyone is well and have a great 4th of july.
thanks again for reelecting me and putting yr trust in me once again to serve and represent beautiful 4602, Dena, Calif.

mahalo,
justin

Attn: Karen P.

2007-06-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

hello karen,
i just saw yr comment on my blog today, june 26, but i don't have any contact info for you.
i'd like to answer yr comments individually/personally, so please email me at:

aaronsindahouse@hotmail.com

mahalo,
justin

¡VOTO! ¡VOTO! ¡VOTO!

2007-06-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

hey everyone,
don't forget to VOTE tomorrow, saturday the 9th!
voter turnout in Altadena is historically, unfortunately, and unnecessarily low. usually candidates receive under 50 votes. keep in mind there are roughly 46--50,000 residents living in this beautiful foothill town. where's the disconnect? is it because we're governed by a faraway, indifferent county bureaucracy? whatever the reason, i highly encourage everyone 18 and over to take about 3 minutes out of your day tomorrow to go to one of the below polling places and vote for a town council candidate in your census tract. support your local government link to the county and participate in our annual elections.
thanks for your support.

mahalo,
justin

Chapman election speech

2007-05-19T01:13:00.001-07:00

here is my 3 minute election speech as read at the may 15 ATC meeting:

"For the past two years it has been an honor and a privilege to represent this beautiful and unique community. My name is Justin Chapman and I'm running for my second term on the Altadena Town Council. I want to continue to effectively represent the people of census tract 4602. They put their trust in me when they elected me two years ago, and everthing I've done on this council since then, all the hard work and volunteer time, has been entirely for their benefit.
I've been living in Altadena for 16 years and the Pasadena area my entire life. I've accomplished many things in my 21 years and have gained valuable life lessons through my various experiences, including student ambassadorship to four countries and two states. I've been published in many newspapers, school papers, magazines, online, and poetry books and have done travel writing and reporting in about 20 countries and many more states. Through my professional child acting career and many other endeavors, I learned early on how to work with people to get things done.
During my tenure on the town council, I have fought tirelessly for the community I love. My main focus has been and always will be education. That's the promise I made when I first ran for the council, and that's what I set out to do the past two years. I believe Altadena is underserved by the Pasadena Unified School District and have dedicated my volunteer time on the council to improve the relationship and communication between the district and the council by offering alternative and unconventional ideas to major problems and dilemmas facing our schools and community. Altadenans want to have an influential and respected voice when it comes to major issues and decisions that affect schools, education, and Altadena students. I restarted the Altadena Town Council's dormant Education Committee and began a virtually nonexistent dialogue with the district. That committee is still doing good work in terms of shaping district policy in favor of the Altadena community and I will continue to push in that direction.
I want the council to be a much more influential and active voice in our community, sharing ideas and working with residents, institutions, and businesses. I have established working relationships with important local community leaders such as congress members, state senators, assembly members, superintendents, various board trustees, mayors, city council members, activists, and county supervisors.
I have several initiatives in mind for my census tract which I will work hard to implement if reelected, such as bus service on Lake Avenue from Altadena Drive to the mountains, park and school safety, and trail and park enhancement and maintenance.
If you live in 4602, please vote for me, Justin Chapman, on Saturday, June 9, so I can continue to fight for positive change in our community. Thank you."

mahalo,
justin

ATC election heats up

2007-05-19T00:58:00.000-07:00

well, the altadena town council 2007 election is gettin' hot after the 14 remaining candidates in all eight open census tract seats gave their speeches at the tuesday, may 15th town council meeting. the candidates are as follows in alphabetical and census tract # order (* indicates the candidate i am/will be supporting while + indicates incumbency):

4601
-tim kelly

4602
-justin chapman*+
-sarah fuller

4603.01
-keith gibbs
-alice wesson*

4603.02
-steve lamb*+
-matt littell

4610
-gene campbell*+

4611
-jerry rhoads
-michele zack+

4612
-ken balder+
-peter baumer
-laura graham*

4613
-lori judson+

in the coming weeks, as it gets closer to the SATURDAY, JUNE 9 election, i will be posting more info about the candidates, along with guaranteed polling places and other relevant campaign shiznit. if lamb and i maintain our two seats and win two seats (in 4603.02 and 4612), altadena will have the first liberal/progressive majority on the town council EVER, and the first majority to actually represent the people of altadena EVER. now that makes this one exciting election! i can't wait...
stay tuned to this blog for more info on my campaign.

mahalo,
justin

Crown City News interview

2007-05-19T00:43:00.001-07:00

on monday, may 7, i was interviewed by tami kimball devine on crown city news, a local pasadena news show broadcast on KPAS 55/56, the same station that producer stuart johnson interviewed me on during the pasadena primary election night ballot counting at the convention center. ms. devine has an amazing story of survival. she was born on a mud floor in a mud hut during civil war in sierra leone. after her mother died when she was young, tami spent some time in a poor orphanage, where she was finally adopted by a white missionary family (the kimball's) who picked her out of a litter of young black girls because of her big bright smile. she is now the producer/anchor of crown city news in pasadena. i am just amazed and touched by her incredible life story, and it was a great honor to have been interviewed by her about my work on the altadena town council, my activism in local education issues in our school district, and my role in the whole AUSD proposal. info on how to see my episode follows:

crown city news airs at 2:30pm (newscast) and 6pm on charter cable channel 56, and 6:30pm on charter cable channel 3. if you can't watch it on TV, go to www.crowncitynews.com and click on the logo.

"we want to be your local TV news resource for the news and events happening in your San Gabriel Valley neighborhoods. so call us with calendar items, story ideas, or to advertise your business or service.
-tami devine
hens teeth square, los robles ave/woodbury dr on the pasa/altadena border
tami@crowncitynews.com/626-798-3288"

mahalo,
justin

Altadena Observed

2007-04-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

mr. kevin roderick of LAObserved.com posted this (along with a link to 'DP) on the thursday news brief section of his blog:

"ALTADENA OBSERVED
Justin Chapman's blog 'Dena Politico has qualms about the recent town council election."

thank you for the recognition, sir.

mahalo,
justin

ATC '07 election inadequacies

2007-04-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

i already have some qualms about the way this year's altadena town council general election is being conducted:
at the april 17 ATC meeting, it was announced that the candidate applications are available at the library, the community center, and on the ATC website. there is NOTHING on our website even now about our election, despite the fact that we have a new, $50-a-month paid webmaster. there are no downloadable applications on the site and no information at all about the election (not to mention the lack of updated agendas, minutes, and meeting info).
i went to the library to pick up my application, and they are not displayed at all, let alone displayed prominently. i had to ask the staff for one, and no disrespect against them, but it took them 15 minutes to locate the apps. how is that community availability?
how is the community (and PUSD and the city of pasadena and the star-news and the county, etc etc etc) supposed to take us seriously if the Dena community doesn't even have time to consider participating or doesn't even know an election is taking place?
i want the town council to be legit and have more power and influence. otherwise what's the point?
check out this week's Pasadena Weekly, in the Upfront section next to the City Beat section, for my brief about the election filing deadline:

www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=4589&IssueNum=69
"How to Make Change" by Justin Chapman
The Altadena Town Council is accepting candidacy applications and candidate statements for the upcoming June 9 election until 5 p.m. on May 8. Applications can be picked up at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, and at the Altadena Library, 600 E. Mariposa St. Candidates must be Altadena residents, at least 18 years old and pay a $25 filing fee.

mahalo,
justin

Ed Comm creates AUSD subcommittee

2007-04-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

at our april 25, 2007 meeting, the ATC Education Committee voted to create an AUSD subcommittee with Members justin chapman, jerry rhoads, and steve lamb.
the altadena town council has yet to see the voted upon and approved 3-point resolution regarding the concept and current petition of AUSD that was passed by the Ed Committee at our February 28, 2007 meeting. the latest news is that it will be presented at the May 15 ATC meeting along with the newly formed AUSD subcommittee.

mahalo,
justin

(another first) Cooper attends ATC Ed Committee

2007-04-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

two firsts in two days. what a week.
for the first time ever, newly elected PUSD school board member Renatta Cooper attended the altadena town council Education Committee's wednesday, april 25, 2007 meeting. she expressed her desire to find the best way to work with the town council, the ed committee, and the altadena community, offering her presence at meetings of either body when called upon as well as her absence from meetings if asked. i don't think i've ever heard such a considerate and generous statement from an elected official before, let alone from a PUSD school board member to any body affiliated with the altadena town council. i thank and commend her (and the community that elected her) for her peace offering and her willingness to really work together. very admirable, i must say.

mahalo,
justin

ATC speaks officially at the PUSD BOE meeting

2007-04-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

for the first time ever, walter olszewski and i spoke officially on behalf of the altadena town council at the pasadena unified school district board of education meeting on tuesday, april 24, 2007. when we both went up to speak during public comment on items not on the agenda, board president peter soelter tried to silence us before we got two sentences out on the grounds we were trying to comment on an agenda item. superintendent edwin diaz silenced him and let us speak, and we went about expressing our (town council's) desire to establish a cooperative, productive relationship with PUSD. when we went up to the podium to speak on the agenda item regarding the proposal to place Rythms of the Village Charter High School at Blair High School, i made the following remarks:

"Hello again Mr. President, school board members, Mr. Diaz. On behalf of the Altadena Town Council, I want to say we are not against any of these schools in question. We want what's best for Rythms of the Village, NIA, and Blair, and what's best for those respective communities. At our recent meeting, the community surrounding Edison and members from both Rythms and NIA clearly expressed their sentiment, and the town council agreed, that the combination of these two philosophically different high schools at Edison Elementary would be detrimental to the growth of both schools. There's just not enough space, and it's clear the Blair community feels the same way about their situation. So on behalf of the Altadena Town Council and the community we represent, I implore you to explore other, more suitable sites, whichever they might be, whether it's the Armory building, or the service center, or any number of other district sites, in order to allow Blair and NIA to continue to flourish, and to give Rythms of the Village the chance to grow that it surely deserves. Thank you for your time and once again I'd like to personally invite all of you to our Education Committee meeting tomorrow night at 7pm at the Altadena Community Center in the spirit of establishing a positive, productive dialogue and relationship between PUSD and the Altadena Town Council, because we want to work with you on this and many other issues. Thank you."

i would like to commend mr. diaz for changing the agenda item regarding Blair/Rythms from an action item to an information item, and for calling for a special school board meeting (although it will take place before the new board members take office on May 7) to decide this issue on Thursday, May 3. thank you also mr. diaz for allowing mr. olszewski and i to speak when the board president was less than cordial.

mahalo,
justin

Rhythms at Edison with NIA?

2007-04-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

there will be a meeting this sunday at 3pm at the town hall regarding the school board's intention to squeeze charter school Rhythms of the Village into the Edison campus along with existing charter NIA. the purpose of the meeting will be to get everyone involved on the same page, and to gauge the community's reaction. if the residents surrounding Edison and people from both charters will be as outraged & organized as the Noyes community was, this ill-intentioned move by the board will be avoided, but if they can get away with it they will. send your thoughts and opinions on the matter to:

aaronsindahouse@hotmail.com

mahalo,
justin

Chapman/Diaz chew the fat, shoot the shit

2007-04-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

my interview with new PUSD superintendent Edwin Diaz was published in the Pasadena Weekly yesterday, Thursday, April 12, 2007. check it out nyaw:

http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=4531&IssueNum=67

he had some good things to say, and perhaps some not so good things. although it ain't saying much, he's better than percy. only time will tell if he's the right man for the job of cleanup. for the community has much healing to do.

mahalo,
justin

Interviewed by KPAS at the Pasadena Conference Center

2007-03-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

producer stuart johnson of KPAS interviewing me during election night coverage at the conference center. the tape had some audio problems so later we went live.

mahalo,

justin

VOTE!!!

2007-03-06T00:06:00.000-08:00

just a friendly reminder for everyone to read up on the candidates for Pasadena City Council and Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education and get out there and vote today, March 6, 2007.
a note from Pasadena City Clerk Jane Rodriguez:
"Election results will be tabulated at the Pasadena Conference Center, 300 E. Green St., upper level (Room 211). The first run of Absentee/Mail ballots will be tabulated shortly after the close of the polls and I expect this information will be announced and posted on the Internet by 8:30pm Tuesday evening. Staff will be putting up a link on Pasadena's home page for ELECTION RESULTS (this will be a red side-bar button on the left side of the home page). Again information will be not be posted until after the close of the polls and ballots begin being tabulated. Home page link is www.cityofpasadena.net
After the first run of AV/Mail ballots there will be a lull until the poll ballots begin arriving at the Conference Center. It takes approximately an hour for the poll workers to close down the polls and do their paperwork, and get the ballots transported. As the poll ballots arrive and get processed, we'll be announcing those tabulations and posting updated information on the web page.
KPAS 55 will begin its programming at 8pm. If candidates are at the Conference Center, you may be asked by KPAS to do a brief interview on live TV."

Mr. Stewart Johnson of KPAS has asked to interview me sometime during the evening, so i look forward to that.

mahalo,
justin

PW first person narrative on AUSD

2007-03-01T21:26:00.000-08:00

yo,
please check out my new article in the Pasadena Weekly. it's a first person narrative describing the progress of AUSD from my perspective, being the one who restarted the ATC Ed Committee to look into the idea of our own school district in Altadena.
enjoy:

http://pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=4375&IssueNum=61

if the link doesn't work, go to www.pasadenaweekly.com and find the link to my article.
let me know what ya'll think.

mahalo,
justin

ATC Ed Comm officially votes on AUSD

2007-03-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

hello all,
about 14 months after the creation of the original Education Committee of the Altadena Town Council by me (unanimously approved by ATC), the new Ed Comm has taken a formal vote on Altadena Unified School District. at last night's meeting, wednesday, february 28, 2007, i made a friendly amendment to jerry rhoads' tabled motion from our january meeting, so the motion read more or less as follows, and contained three important points:

1. that the ed comm recommend to the altadena town council that they support the concept of an independent Altadena Unified School District as a possible option for the community in the future.
2. that the ed comm recommend to the ATC that they continue, through the ed comm, to support further investigation/study of an AUSD and continue to gather community input.
3. that the ed comm recommend to the ATC that they NOT support the current AUSD petition UNLESS the original chief petitioners are replaced by recognized civic leaders approved by the ATC.

don't know if the ATC will pass the motion as written, but the ed comm passed it 5-2, with one abstention by the Smile Lady. that last point was a victory for me and my allies, as it were. those of us on the ed comm who are also members of the group Altadenans for Quality Education/AUSD Steering Committee could/would not vote on any AUSD motion for the ATC that did not contain specific language expressing that we do not support Bruce Wasson's AUSD petition unless the chief petitioners are replaced. i would be fine supporting it as long as Wasson is replaced. his petition effort, in my opinion and many others, is a racist, elite, non-transparent, non-accountable movement that does not represent our diverse community. if we did not publicly state, through the above motion, that we do not support his petition, it could be mistakenly implied or assumed that we do support it, not to mention Wasson's "official" AUSD website (plagiarized from Rhoads' website in which Wasson also transferred my name and George Lewis' name as Endorsers of the petition without asking us; our names have since been removed after two phone calls and three emails, none of which were returned). whether or not ATC passes our motion as written, we are now on public record expressing that we do NOT support Wasson's petition, not unless he is replaced. the only reason we wanted to try to maybe salvage the current petition is because many people spent the last year gathering signatures (roughly 2,500) on volunteer time. what has happened to this once shining example to the world, in my humble opinion, is a tragedy for our community. i hope some good can come from all this.

mahalo,
justin

PUSD School Tours

2007-02-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

if you are going through the Open Enrollment process in PUSD (or if you just want to check out a school), make sure you visit the school(s) of your choice before the application period ends Feb. 9. each school has its own scheduled tour hours. below is a partial list of Altadena school tours. call ahead to make sure.

Altadena Elementary- regular tours by appointment only: 626-798-7878

Burbank Elementary- regular tours are Tues. from 9-10am; contact Principal Lawson at 626-798-6769

Franklin Elementary- regular tours are Fri. at 11am; call 626-798-9116

Jackson Elementary- regular tours are Fri. at 9am or to schedule an appointment call 626-798-6773

Loma Alta Elementary- regular tours are Tues. at 8:30am; call 626-797-1173

Webster Elementary/Middle School- regular tours are semi-monthly and by appointment; call 626-798-7866

mahalo,
justin

PUSD Candidate Forums

2007-02-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

don't forget to vote March 6th! voters in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre can vote for all three open school board seats. come hear the candidates speak for themselves on the issues that affect you:

Feb. 14 @ 7pm - Democracy for America - The Spot, 2032 N. Lincoln, Altadena

Feb. 15 @ 7pm - Longfellow School PTA - 1065 E. Washington, Pasadena

Feb. 17 @ 5pm - APPLE/Latino Forum - Pasadena Job Center, 500 N. Lake, Pasadena

Feb. 24 @ 9:30am - NAACP/ATC Education Committee - Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena

mahalo,
justin

Candidates Forum at Altadena Community Center

2007-01-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

Altadena and Pasadena Branches of the NAACP invite you to attend:
The Pasadena Unified School District Board Candidate Forum
When: Saturday, February 24, 2007
Where: Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., Altadena, CA 91001, 626-794-7999
Time: 9-9:30am Refreshments, 9:30am-noon Forum
Co-sponsored by: Altadena Town Council Education Committee, Delta Sigma Theta Pasadena Chapter, NBCDI, Black Male Forum, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Women in Action, and other Greek and Community Organizations
Please come and join us in meeting the School Board Candidates. This is the time to ask your questions and to voice your concerns before you vote Tuesday, March 6, 2007.

this (and one other forum at The Spot restaurant on Lincoln--see complete list of forums posted above) will most likely be the only candidates forums in Altadena, so i highly suggest everyone attend and bring a friend.

mahalo,
justin

One-sided Pasadena Star-News story on AUSD

2007-01-31T22:44:00.000-08:00

the below story, by Cortney Fielding of PSN, is incomplete and biased.
although ms. fielding attended the mentioned ATC Ed Comm meeting on Jan 24, she did not ask the committee members for quotes, documents, clarification, or information. the only person interviewed for this story was shirlee smith, apparently.
ms. fielding did the same thing for the last story she did on AUSD, dated Dec. 4, 2006.
there are various inaccuracies throughout:

"Altadena school activists criticized
By Cortney Fielding, Staff Writer
Pasadena Star-News
Article launched: 1/26/2007, 9:25:17pm PST

ALTADENA- A leader in this community's movement to secede from the Pasadena Unified School District is calling for two of his fellow activists to step down.
During a meeting of the Altadena Town Council's education subcommittee earlier this week, member Jerry Rhoads said two of the Altadenans for Quality Education's three chief petitioners - responsible for overseeing the collection of 7,000 signatures needed to spark a county feasibility study - should be dismissed.
Rhoads said local children's advocate and cable television host Shirlee Smith, who writes a Pasadena Star-News column, and Bruce Wasson have continuously refused calls from the committee to report their progress. Rhoads also said Wasson has refused for months to turn over petitions to the sheriff's Altadena station, which has agreed to hold them for safekeeping.
'They have been completely unresponsive,' said Rhoads, recommending the pair be replaced with 'civil leaders,' such as members of the town council.
'Let's make this a civic movement, not a private one,' he said.
The group of Altadena residents exploring PUSD secession said it has collected 2,500 of the signatures needed to begin a Los Angeles County Board of Education study that would examine the feasibility of breaking away from the Pasadena Unified School District.
The study would be the first step toward creating an Altadena Unified School District.
After learning of Rhoads' remarks Friday, Smith said his charges against her and Wasson were completely unfounded.
'My parents cautioned me about nonsense in life,' she said. 'Need I say more?'
She said she was busy working the night of the committee meeting and said that it saddened her that Rhoads was devoting 'so much energy on nonsense.'
'Seven thousand signatures are needed,' she said. 'In the end, it doesn't make any difference who the chief petitioners are. I could care less whether I'm one, or none.'
Rhoads made his comments during a committee discussion on the possibility of requesting the Town Council to officially endorse the AUSD movement. He said he could not vote for the plan unless his conditions were met.
'It's the only way I can see doing it,' he said.
The committee meeting was also planned as a public forum to allow community members to voice their feelings about an Altadena school district. But only six members of the public attended. Committee members siad the open forum had not been adequately publicized, and rescheduled it for next month.
Discussion on Rhoads' proposition and voting were tabled until after that meeting."
cortney.fielding@sgvn.com
626-578-6300 ext. 4494

mahalo,
justin

Altadena's Partial List of Grievances as Performed by PUSD

2007-01-31T21:55:00.000-08:00

written by Steve Lamb [in reponse to a composite of observations about PUSD's search for a new superintendent (specifically item #10 under "the major challenges facing the district in the years ahead" section, which reads "10- Altadena attempting to pull out of the district, potentially removing a large portion of the system and exacerbating the challenges listed above") as authored by Myra Martin Booker of Linda Vista-Annandale Association on Monday, September 25, 2006, and sent to Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition Chairman Dale Trader] on Thursday, October 15, 2006, and sent to Pasadena City Council, Altadena Town Council, PUSD Board of Education, Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition, AUSD Now! Steering Committee, Altadena NAACP, and Supervisor Michael Antonovich's staff:

"The consideration by Altadena of removing itself from the PUSD is a result of several major 2000 pound gorillas in the room that no one from Pasadena will publically address. These are as follows:
1. Continuing lack of respect for the concerns and needs of Altadena's citizens and students.
2. Continuing 'dumping' of undesirable land uses by not-for-profits controlled by predominantly Pasadena boards of directors, in Altadena. This includes the endless effort to place various programs that are not wanted in Pasadena in Altadena.
3. Failure after nearly 40 years of alleged special programs, integration, and various so called reforms to raise the level of education for minority students. In fact the level of education for minorities is BELOW what it was when Judge Manuel Real issued his integration order, and the PUSD schools have been reorganized into not a defacto, but a dejure system of segregated and unequal schools. These schools are failing minority and not so wealthy kids on a level that even the late Gov. George Wallace would have found intolerable.
4. A financial system in the PUSD that favors connected no bid contractors.
5. The fact that the PUSD is NOT supplying services required by state law to individual handicapped students, but is uspplying well connected local not-for-profits with outrageous sums of money to educate kids who could be educated more inexpensively and effectively.

The State of California will not allow Altadena to leave the PUSD, no matter what positive effects would be gained by our students, if the PUSD would be harmed. It is a false statement that Altadena leaving the PUSD would harm the PUSD at all. By state law, if Pasadena would be injured, our kids must continue to suffer. An outrage to any fair minded Democratic citizen.
-Altadena Town Councilman Steve Lamb"

mahalo,
justin

Replacing a Chief Petitioner...

2007-01-31T21:54:00.000-08:00

in the "Background" section of the "Territory Transfer Analysis from Inglewood USD to Culver City USD" report, it reads:
"On May 25, 2005, LACOE [Los Angeles County Office of Education] received a letter from Dr. Boodnick of the Ladera Heights Civic Association requesting that Mr. Raymond be replaced by Ms. Cheryl Cook as one of the chief petitioners."
Dr. Boodnick and Mr. Raymond were both original chief petitioners of that petition effort. The report makes no mention of LACOE's Committee on School District Organization's response to the replacement request. In a response to an email by myself, Mr. Daniel Villanueva, Secretary of LACOE's CSDO, wrote on Tuesday, January 23, 2006:
"A Chief Petitioner could submit a letter indicating that they are no longer a Chief Petitioner. A petition must have at least one Chief Petitioner and no more than three. To replace a Chief Petitioner, the remaining Chief Petitioner's must submit his/her name and contact information. No statement needs to be made regarding resignationg or replacement. -Daniel G. Villanueva"

later i spoke to him on the phone, and he clarified that a chief petitioner must give his/her consent in order to be replaced by another chief petitioner.

mahalo,
justin

PUSD's Timeline to Adopt 711 Recommendations

2007-01-31T21:26:00.000-08:00

TIMELINE FOR USE OF PROPERTIES NOT NEEDED FOR SCHOOL PROPERTIES

January 23, 2007- Regular meeting presentation by Miller Brown & Dannis

February 6, 2007- Study session discussion of 711 recommendations

February 13, 2007- Regular meeting Adoption of 711 recommendations, as presented or revised [emphasis added].

at the Jan 23 meeting, Janet Mueller of MB&D gave the school board a power point presentation titled "The Surplus Property Disposition Process: Options, Roles, & Responsibitlies of the Pasadena Unified School District." apparently, Ms. Mueller gave different advice to the school board than she did to the 711 Committee. among other things, she said it was not advisable to move a charter school that was already located at a site, and that officially describing the closed school sites, etc., as "surplus" before determining where charter schools would be located is inappropriate, as they are obligated to provide sites for charter schools under Prop. 39. she recommended the board get through their Prop. 39 process before determining which sites are surplus, which is apparently not what she told the 711 Committee.

all of this means the timeline above is temporarily null and void. however, that doesn't mean PUSD won't adopt the 711 recommendations with little or no announcement to the public. the sooner the ATC adopts the new Ed Comm resolution, the better. Altadena's position on our closed school sites MUST be part of the discussion before PUSD makes its decision that affects our community.
we'll see what happens at the Feb 6 board meeting.

here's Mary Dee Romney's description of the Jan 23 meeting, as posted to Greatschools:
"A presentation to the BOE Tuesday night (Janet Mueller, Esq., Miller Brown & Dannis) on legal process for the declaration and/or disposition of surplus properties included the requirement to calculate housing for 'in-district' charter school students in district-wide facilities plans.
Since many charter students are expected to be former PUSD students, this sets a new reality for the 711/surplus process.
Presented to the BOE Tuesday night was this:
'If closed sites are to be offered to Charter Schools, complete Proposition 39 evaluation process before making surplus determination.'
This is not entirely a bad development, for two reasons:
1) It will force the PUSD to set sound and legal and fair standards for making judgments in the charter petition process, and
2) It will force PEF's Mr. Honowitz and Mr. Babcock to first consider the education/facilities needs of the community's K-12 children before plopping their non-profit friends onto closed school sites and/or ground leasing sites for development and revenue.
-Mary Dee Romney"

mahalo,
justin

New resolution passed by ATC Ed Comm

2007-01-30T16:19:00.000-08:00

The first "711 committee report" resolution focused on the actual 711 report, disputing the facts it used, the makeup of the committee (i.e. lack of Altadena representation), and the conclusions it came to. The Altadena Town Council, at its January 16th meeting, tabled the resolution until its February meeting. i was late to the Jan. meeting, and missed the 711 resolution discussion. many, including myself, felt the resolution was lacking a critical piece of information: what the community wants for our closed Altadena schools sites (Noyes, Audubon, & Edison elementaries), namely, short term leases for educational uses. i rewrote the resolution, included this position (which is consistent with a joint resolution passed last Aug/Sept 06 by the town council and several other neighborhood associations), and after an hour and a half discussion, it was passed 8-2 by the ATC Education Committee. the two opposing votes only did so because they wanted the resolution to go even further; they wanted it to include a sentencement that excluded "stand alone high schools at elementary campuses" from the list of acceptable uses. the others felt that should be dealt with later on a separate, case by case basis. otherwise, they approved the resolution. in our minds, time was of the essence. PUSD had quietly released their timeline to adopt the 711 recommendations, which we disagreed with. according to that timeline, which has since been debunked by PUSD's own law firm, Miller Brown & Dannis, PUSD was to have one study session on Feb. 6 to discuss the recommendations, and then adopt them on Feb 13, one week before our next Altadena Town Council meeting. we concluded Altadena's opinion must be known before PUSD made their decision that would affect our schools. now the timeline is unclear. MB & D told the school board they cannot adopt the recommendations by the 13th, meaning we (the ATC) have more time to discuss my (& now the Ed Comm's) new resolution before PUSD makes their decision. if PUSD decides to "lease" our school sites to non-educational uses for 40-99 years (basically sell), the community will never get them back. they will be lost to educational use forever. this is unacceptable. those properties have been built and maintained by the financial contribution of the tax payers of Altadena, as stated in the resolution.

see the new resolution, the old one, and the joint one from last fall below.

mahalo,
justin
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ATC Ed Comm- New "711 Resolution" approved 8-2 on Jan. 24, 2007

Whereas, the Pasadena Unified School District has closed three elementary schools in the Altadena area and has suggested that additional schools may be closed; and

Whereas, public school sites, once diverted to non-education purposes, can not be replaced except at great public expense; and

Whereas, Altadena area public schools are an important historical and architectural resource of the Altadena community that have been built and maintained with the financial resources of generations of Altadenans through the property taxes paid by Altadenans; and

Whereas, Altadena area public schools are an important part of the open space plan of the Altadena Community and should, during off-school hours, be available, without charge or fee, for recreational use by Altadenans; and

Whereas, the PUSD 7-11 Committee did not include adequate representation of Altadena proportional to the number of Altadena school sites under the committee’s consideration; and

Whereas, the Pasadena Unified School District in holding legal title to the properties of the Pasadena Unified School District must exercise the duty and care of a fiduciary to maintain and preserve said properties for the future benefit of the residents of Altadena; and

Whereas, school sites not needed for public school purposes should remain available for future public school purposes;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that all closed school sites in Altadena should be used for alternative educational purposes including charter schools, private schools, and child care facilities, and excluding retail, housing, administrative/office use, and/or continuation schools; and

Be It Further Resolved that we strongly urge the Pasadena Unified School District, in consultation with local neighborhood associations, residents, and the Altadena Town Council, to immediately enter into no more than five year subject-to-annual-review lease agreements with charter schools, private schools, and child care providers for the use of closed school sites in Altadena; and

Be It Further Resolved that all school sites in Altadena should be utilized for after-school and summer recreational purposes; and

Be It Further Resolved that we strongly urge the Pasadena Unified School District, in consultation with local neighborhood associations, residents, and the Altadena Town Council, to immediately enter into agreements with appropriate city and county recreational departments to utilize the open space of all district properties in Altadena; and

Be It Further Resolved that this resolution shall be presented to the Board of Education of the Pasadena Unified School District, the 7-11 Committee of the Pasadena Unified School District, the City Council of the City of Pasadena, the City Council of the City of Sierra Madre, and the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles.
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ATC Ed Comm- Old “711 Comm. Report” Resolution
Tabled at ATC meeting on Jan. 16, 2007

Whereas, the Pasadena Unified School District has closed three elementary schools in the Altadena area and has suggested that additional schools may be closed; and

Whereas, at the Pasadena Unified School District 7-11 Committee public hearing at the Altadena Community Center, the Education Committee of the Altadena Town Council invited the entire 7-11 Committee to meet with the Education Committee, and only two members of the 7-11 Committee met with the Education Committee; and

Whereas, the makeup of the 7-11 Committee does not comport to the requirements of the Education Code; and

Whereas, the recommendations of the 7-11 Committee do not adequately take into account the views expressed by the Altadena Community at the 7-11 Committee’s public hearing and the subsequent meeting of the Education Committee; and

Whereas, public school sites, once diverted to non-education purposes, can not be replaced except at great public expense; and

Whereas, Altadena area public schools are an important part of the open space plan of the Altadena Community and should, during off-school hours, be available, without charge or fee, for recreational used by Altadenans; and

Whereas, Altadena area public schools are an important historical and architectural resource of the Altadena community that have been built and maintained with the financial resources of generations of Altadenans through the property taxes paid by Altadenans; and

Whereas, because the 7-11 Committee, without independent audit or verification, relied on statistics provided by the Pasadena Unified School District regarding the number of classrooms, number of students per classroom, and other statistical matters, it is the consensus of the Altadena Town Council that the 7-11 Committee’s report is fundamentally flawed; and

Whereas, because the capacity calculations contained in the 7-11 Committee report do not take into account the need for classroom space for special education, music, art, vocational education, evolving technology, libraries, and other special uses, it is the consensus of the Altadena Town Council that the excess capacity calculations of the 7-11 Committee are overstated; and

Whereas, the capacity calculations contained in the 7-11 Committee report are based on the continued use of portable classrooms which detract from the aesthetic and open space design and amenities of school campuses and because it is the consensus of the Altadena Town Council that portable classrooms should be removed from all campuses when there is sufficient capacity in permanent buildings; now

Therefore Be It Resolved, that for each of the reasons enumerated above, the Altadena Town Council goes on record as opposing and objecting to the conclusions of the 7-11 Committee Report, the makeup of the 7-11 Committee, and the statistical basis used by the 7-11 Committee to reach it’s conclusions.
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Joint Resolution on the use of PUSD School Sites
Adopted by Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition, Altadena Town Council, West Pasadena Residents’ Association, and other community groups Aug/Sept 2006

Whereas the school sites and facilities comprising the Pasadena Unified School District are the equitable and historical legacy of generations of Pasadenans, Altadenans, and Sierra Madreans; and

Whereas the school sites and facilities comprising the Pasadena Unified School District were built and have been maintained with financial resources generated from the people of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre; and

Whereas the people of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre built and have maintained the school sites comprising the Pasadena Unified School District for the purpose of providing educational facilities and open space throughout the communities of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre; and

Whereas the Pasadena Unified School District in holding legal title to the properties of the Pasadena Unified School District must exercise the duty and care of a fiduciary to maintain and preserve said properties for the future benefit of the residents of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre; and

Whereas the Pasadena Unified School District has determined that the level of enrollment in the schools comprising the Pasadena Unified School District necessitate that some of the schools within the Pasadena Unified School District should not be used for public school purposes; and

Whereas, school sites not needed for public school purposes should remain available for future public school purposes;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that all closed school sites should be used for alternative educational purposes such as charter schools, private schools, and child care facilities; and

Be It Further Resolved that we strongly urge the Pasadena Unified School District, in consultation with local neighborhood associations and residents, the Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition, and the Altadena Town Council, to immediately enter into one year subject to annual renewal review lease agreements with charter schools, private schools, and child care providers for the use of closed school sites; and

Be it Further Resolved that all school sites should be utilized for after-school, weekend, and summer recreational purposes; and

Be It Further Resolved that we strongly urge the Pasadena Unified School District, in consultation with local neighborhood associations and residents, the Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition, and the Altadena Town Council, to immediately enter into agreements with appropriate city and county recreational departments to utilize the open space of all district properties; and

Be It Further Resolved that this resolution shall be presented to the Board of Education of the Pasadena Unified School District, the 7-11 Committee of the Pasadena Unified School District, the City Council of the City of Pasadena, the City Council of the City of Sierra Madre, and the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles.
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PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
BOARD MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA
JANUARY 23, 2007
D. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BOARD Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room 236351
S. Hudson Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101
E. ADJOURNMENT OF CLOSED SESSION
F. REGULAR MEETING - 6:30 P.M.
K. SPECIAL PRESENTATION
3. Miller Brown and Dannis. Janet Mueller of Miller Brown and Dannis will report on the roles and responsibilities of the Board regarding use of school buildings or space not needed for school purposes.
Q. ACTION ITEMS
1. Acceptance of the Williams 2nd Quarter Summary Report [BR 124-B]. It is recommended that the Governing Board of the Pasadena Unified School District accept for public record the Williams 2nd Quarter Summary Report. There are no financial implications.
ATTACHMENT Q-1 BR 124-B MOTION-SECOND-VOTE
2. Approval of Timeline for Use of Properties Not Needed for SchoolPurposes. It is recommended that the Governing Board of the PasadenaUnified School District approve the timeline for use of properties notneeded for school purposes.
ATTACHMENT Q-2 MOTION-SECOND-VOTE
R. INFORMATION ITEM
1. Budget 2007-08. Dr. Stephen Hodgson will provide information on the upcoming budget study session scheduled for February 6, 2007, including a discussion of principles for guiding future budgetary decisions.
S. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Facilities and Capital Projects. The Facilities and Capital Projects Subcommittee will provide a brief report of the status of work to date, and presents the following recommendation for approval:
a. Acceptance of Guiding Principles Regarding Proposition 39. It is recommended that the Governing Board of the Pasadena Unified School District approve the guiding principles regarding Proposition 39.
ATTACHMENT S1.a. MOTION-SECOND-VOTE