Measure D and PUSD

Expanding on the show of global unity between Edwin Diaz and Bill Bogaard - on full display at Rose Parade - the PUSD board on Tuesday is going to consider approving a resolution supporting Measure D.
The original resolution read: urges voters to support...: (Cue the red flags from the critics along with letter mailed to the DA's office.)

Staff quickly revised the resolution on Monday with more general and non-education code violating "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Pasadena Unified Board of Education supports the passage of Measure D to continue the funding of these vital programs that help families and children, which will allow Pasadena to maintain existing services, including those that directly affect our schools, with no new taxes."

My story should have run in today's paper, but it didn't. I have no idea why.

Here's a version that my editor just re-worked so my long hours tracking down the superintendent, school board members along with a election-law expert weren't for nothing! Thanks Hector!

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By Caroline An
Staff Writer
PASADENA — Prompted by questions over whether it violated state law, a resolution putting the Pasadena Unified School District on record in support of a city utility tax measure has been re-worded.
The reworked resolution, which the district’s school board was expected to adopt at its Tuesday night meeting, eliminated wording saying that the district “urges voters” to support Measure D.
It now states that the “Pasadena Unified Board of Education supports the passage of Measure D to continue the funding of these vital programs that help families and children, which will allow Pasadena to maintain existing services, including those that directly affect our schools, with no new taxes.”
Under Section 7954 of the state Education Code, public school districts are forbidden from using funds to urge the support or defeat of any ballot measure or candidate.
Long-time district critic Rene Amy lodged a formal complaint against the original resolution with the Public Integrity Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He asked the office to look into whether the resolution violated any part of the code.
“You are not allowed to urge people,” Amy said. “What did somebody do, read the law and figure out how to break it?”
Superintendent Edwin Diaz said board member Ed Honowitz developed the original resolution.
Board President Esteban Lizardo said, after reviewing the resolution and state guidelines, he ordered staffers to revise the wording. Diaz said the district’s legal counsel then reviewed the revisions to ensure that “it is safe and in no violation of the education code.”
“Any language in which we urge people to go out and vote is not allowed in resolutions,” Lizardo said.
School boards can support a measure, but it is different from saying “please go out and vote for it,” Lizardo added.
Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, a watch-dog group, said the district might have received bad advice when drafting the original resolution.
“I would have advised them not to take a formal position on this. It looks like the government is telling you what do,” he said.
caroline.an@sgvn.com
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