By Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun
Pasadena Sun
Simmering tensions among Pasadena Board of Education members boiled over this week with accusations that some members have stifled attempts to raise controversial ideas for public discussion.In hopes of reaching détente, the board will make the agenda-setting process more public.
“This will reinstitute faith in the process,” board member Ramon Miramontes said. Miramontes had accused board President Renatta Cooper of withholding debate on expansion of charter schools and renegotiating union labor contracts.
Miramontes wants officials to consider changing Washington Middle School, which has failed to meet federal academic improvement standards for 10 years, into a district-sponsored charter school.
He’s also pushing to renegotiate union contracts to require as much as 50% employment of local workers in school construction projects — a topic initially raised more than a year ago.
Cooper said both topics were delayed because of lack of staff reports following the exodus last school year of the district’s previous facilities director and superintendent.
Board members on Tuesday ranked the priorities of dozens of backburner topics by written ballot, with consensus that Supt. Jon Gundry would deliver scheduling proposals at the next meeting.
