Labor Negotiations and Controversial Principal Again Dominate School Board Meeting

In what has become a replay of sorts over the last three months, frustrated representatives of local teacher and labor unions, as well as unhappy parents from Madison Elementary School upset over its principal, Juan Ruelas, dominated the opening public comment discussions of last night’s monthly Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board meeting.

More than a dozen parents and labor representatives offered opinions on the ongoing negotiations between the district and United Teachers of Pasadena, as well as the Ruelas matter.

Superintendent Brian McDonald first led a moment of silence for three students who passed away during the current month. Also, Rose Parade Princess Donaly Marquez of Blair High School visited the meeting to greet the board members.

Meanwhile, in the adjoining hallway, nearly a hundred members of United Teachers of Pasadena along with supporting members of The California Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association, as well as teachers and staffers from nearby communities, sang a loud and urgent re-written protest version of ‘Silent Night” throughout most of the public speakers portion of the meeting.

Attorneys Dale Gronemier and Skip Hickambottom introduced the Ruelas discussion by positing the idea that 2011-2013 SBAC test scores for Roosevelt Elementary School — from which Ruelas was hired — may have been tampered with.

Gronemeier displayed to the board a graph which demonstrated that 2011-2013 test scores, which ranked Roosevelt as fourth highest in the district, plummeted when pencil-and-paper testing became computerized in 2014. Those 2014 test scores dropped Roosevelt to 15th overall among Pasadena elementary schools. It was those test scores that were touted when Ruelas was first transferred into Madison Elementary, a relationship that has been tumultuous since its onset.

Pressed about their assertion, Gronemeier said, “Yes, it’s a very serious charge.”

As the loud singing continued from the hallway, a host of parents came forth to continue the string of complaints about Principal Ruelas, who was placed at Madison last Spring by Superintendent McDonald.

The complaints, many of them tearful, came in bunches while the board members sat stoically. The parents alleged Ruelas is a dictatorial leader who is protected by PUSD leadership. Reportedly nearly half of the school’s 20 teachers have left since his arrival.

“I am so disappointed in this board,” said parent Julieta Aragon.

“Especially you, Mrs. Pomeroy,” she said, pointing at board president Elizabeth Pomeroy. “All these complaints against Mr. Ruelas, and you ignore us.”

“This would not happen if our last names were ‘Jones’ or “Smith,” she continued, addressing Boardmember Larry Torres. “Shame on you, Mr. Torres, to allow this to happen to the Hispanic community.”

Pasadena Unified Associate Superintendent Issues Statement Regarding Allegations Against Madison Elementary School Principal Juan Ruelas  |  Read it here: http://bit.ly/1lXJXm6

Another parent, “Rose,” speaking in Spanish, asked the board: “Is McDonald being paid $230,000 a year to cover up for Mr. Ruelas?”

A sobbing Sonora Alvarez described two incidents with her son, who fell twice at Madison, cutting his lip and injuring his wrist. “And no one does anything!” she said through tears.

Kevin Flores, representing the Immigrant Youth Coalition demanded Ruelas’ firing, calling him “a threat to our community.”

“Teachers and parents are constantly threatened,” he said. Another representative of the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, a 13-group coalition, also “demanded that Ruelas be fired.”

Pablo Alvarado, a local resident and activist, who is married to a teacher, said, “My wife is up every morning at 5 a.m., and then works hard all day. She deserves a raise.” Then, turning his attention to the matter of Ruelas, said of the complaints, “You have not been responsive and this is what you get.” Encapsulating the complaints, he asked the board, “How many grievances have you received about Ruelas in the past year? How many students and teachers have transferred out? How many of the current teachers at Madison are temps or subs? How many times have the police been called to the campus?”

Former Madison Elementary School Principal Sandra Macis alleged that there have been 14 formal grievances against Principal Ruelas since his arrival.

“If any teacher or staff person or principal receives a grievance,” she explained, “there is a meeting with the accused and the accuser, a labor representative, and a member of the school board present.” There have been no such meetings with Principal Ruelas, she said.

[Editor’s note: Pasadena Now asked a board representative about this, following the meeting, and will follow up as we receive a response.]

As the discussion moved onto the labor negotiations topic, Taline Arsenian, president of the Glendale Teachers Association, told the board that teachers in that city will be receiving 8% and 11 % raises now, and and the end of 2017. The Pasadena school board has offered its teachers a 3% raise, and the union has demanded 6%.

“Don’t throw up your hands and call an impasse,” she said, as union members rose and stoo in solidarity whenever a union member spoke. “Roll up your sleeves and get to work.” She added also that the cost of living has increased 13% since the last contract, and that the Pasadena board contract offer is not even close to that.

Alvin Nash, President of United Teachers of Pasadena, also reminded the board that Pasadena teachers are currently ranked below the median teacher salaries in the latest LA County salary review.

“Zero % and 3% raises are unacceptable,” Nash said.

A school board representative noted that new third-party labor negotiations will begin in January, and that the board is pleased to see “movement” in the negotiations.