39 South Pasadena Unified Staff Facing Termination if Parcel Tax Fails, Administrator Says

The South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) said Tuesday it would be forced to terminate at least 39 staff, including 27 kindergarten, elementary and high school teachers if the parcel tax renewal fails.

The SPUSD is trying to plug a $2 million budget deficit as the district is spending more than it is bringing in that Assistant Superintendent of Business Scott Price said renewing Measure S is crucial.

Even with the passage of Proposition 30, the SPUSD says it is still $2 million short of its budgetary requirement. Should the parcel tax renewal fails, then the district says it will be left with no choice but to reduce its staff by 39 to save an estimated $2,070,000 for the 2013-14 school year.

Price said during his presentation of the board’s interim budget that SPUSD administrators are “looking at seniority lists and preparing for the next step.”

The staff positions to be eliminated for 2013-14 if Measure S renewal fails might include 23 teachers in K-3 (enlarging ratios from 20:1 to 30:1); two teachers, elementary arts (music and drama); two teachers, 9th grade English, two elementary counselors; one high school counselor; one library clerk; three elementary library technicians; three elementary computer aides; one intervention counselor; and one math coach.

Voters of South Pasadena approved in June 2009 a four-year parcel tax of $288 for single parcels and $95 for each unit in four-plex parcels. The program ends this June and if not renews, the district will be forced to lay off teachers, increase the class size, and enforce cuts in libraries, arts, music, and classroom academics.