It's not all warm and fuzzy

The PUSD board approval of the consultant contract a few weeks ago continues to aggravate the same people who tried to dissuade their colleagues from voting "yay" on an issue they gave two thumbs down on.

Some members of the school board are not happy about the result or with the actions of their colleagues.

Pasadena Unified board members not all content
Hiring of consultant stirs up old concerns
By Caroline An, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 12/29/2007 10:40:21 PM PST

PASADENA - The new school board and district leadership promised improved openness and accessibility. At least two board members complain it's business as usual at the school district.

The divisiveness that marked the five-year tenure of former Superintendent Percy Clark may be back after a consultant was hired Dec. 18 at the urging of new Superintendent Edwin Diaz and over the objections of two board members.

Percy Clark, PUSD's former superintendent who was given a polite boot out the door last year, is still around. For board member Renatta Cooper, that's not good news. In the story, Cooper said that the district can't move forward if people associated with Clark and his senior administration are in decision-making positions.

From the emails I have received, the general feeling is that the issue comes down to the old boys, or in this case, old girls network and just how much power the PEF'ers have over the board. In an earlier story on the board approval of the contract, Edwin Diaz said that all consultant contracts - including Kristin M's - would be re-evaluated.

Additionally, Diaz acknowledged that based on strong sentiments - translation: irritation - expressed by certain board members at the Dec. 18 meeting, Maschka's work would be evaluated frequently and presented to the board.