Guest Opinion | Francis Boland: Vote Yes on Measure O

I think Pasadena not only should vote in favor of Measure O, I feel Pasadena should be ashamed if it does not.

I feel I must answer first David Coher’s ridiculous letter against Measure O, and its claims that PUSD does not deserve a new bond because he and the citizens of Pasadena could not be bothered to volunteer enough time to sufficiently staff the Citizens Oversight Committee. Because it is a CITIZEN’S Oversight Committee, it needs citizens to volunteer for that position.

Mr. Coher doesn’t seem to realize the COC having less than the minimum members required is a physical representation of his and his city’s apathetic or negative attitude towards his city’s school district, not a failure by that district or the school board, who have been advertising non-stop for new members.

He then goes on to impugn the honesty and character of the current and former COC. He mentions that one of the members works for another members consulting business, adding “what a smart way to get yourself two votes – put your own employee on the Committee with you”! 

Votes for what, Mr. Coher? There are no “votes” to be won or lost. The COC only reports to the citizens of Pasadena on the bond spending. It does not plan, execute, or approve spending. It has no power to do so. The members are citizens, volunteering their valuable time on an already thankless task, and now you want to create some negative fabrication about their character and honesty? There are no votes. There are no benefits.

In addition, the members you speak of have direct construction experience, are extremely dedicated, and have already provided Pasadena a service above and beyond what was expected. How dare you, Sir? How dare you?

Mr. Coher claims that because of this stacked deck of votes, the District’s board is never in danger of “losing” a vote to the Committee. There is never a situation where the COC is voting in a district decision, period. The Board can and does listen to the COC. There is a Board liaison who is present at each COC meeting. The COC did move its meetings to the night before the board meetings in order to be able to provide timely commentary on spending requests. The Board has reconsidered requests based on COC recommendations, given the fact that the COC is staffed with people with construction, and school construction expertise. Some of whom have children that attend PUSD schools. None of whom are David Coher.

Mr. Coher claims that “In 2018, when Measure TT Committee members asked too many questions…they were immediately fired” – that is just plain not true. I was the Chairman of that Committee and gave the 2018 annual report in person before the board, and they never mentioned all of us being fired. So, again, Mr. Coher – what is your problem?

Prior to that, Quincy Hocutt was removed as Chair for misrepresenting his position as Chair several times, finally in speaking against Measure J, in his capacity as COC Chair, without consulting the COC.

He and the previous Chair had been engaged in an extremely contentious relationship with PUSD, using the COC, which had gotten extremely and inappropriately personal, and his misrepresentation of his position to hurt the district was one manifestation of that. 

The COC was at times a very divided one, but a lot of work went into repairing that relationship so that oversight could properly take place. Unfortunately, many very vocal Pasadenan’s do love to throw dirt on PUSD. 

I am a parent of PUSD students. I was Chairman or a member of the COC for three years. For which I accepted not even a letter of thanks, so you have zero right to question my integrity. As for insider dealing – do I sound like an insider to you? I’m a parent who tried to help you should try it. Why is it you, and the previous members of the COC you seem to support, delight in parroting Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association calls for “real reform” without ever really knowing what you mean specifically when attacking PUSD? Why do you get such delight in attacking it period, as an entity, when what it really is is a collection of members of your community trying to educate their children? Because depersonalizing it makes you feel like less of what you actually are would be my guess. 

That position of COC Chair is an adversarial one, and in the end I resigned because I had come to like the people of PUSD too much, and I felt that with the COC’s currently incredibly dedicated and honest members I could step away and leave it in good hands.

People against this bond measure forget that PUSD put aside two easily passable bond measures the last few years so as not to compete with tax Measures put forth by our city leadership. Measure J passed with the promise that one third goes to PUSD. Or it would not have passed. Immediately upon passage the city called for oversight or “checks and balances” into that money. They tried to cap it at a hard number. Then a parcel tax.

Now PUSD asks for roughly half of what it is authorized to ask for, a number which would still leave Pasadena behind Compton in terms of taxpayer support for its district, and the City Chamber cries poor, the vocal anti-PUSD comes out and says how dare they ask for money. Well who are they? “They” are the children of this city. “They” are the parents who are simply trying to give their child the same opportunity, at least in terms of raw knowledge, that your little rich boy takes for granted. “They” can’t afford sneakers for the basketball team that can’t afford uniforms, that represent this city’s public schools. “They” simply want their kid to be given a fair shot in life. How dare they ask for a minimum of public funds from an extremely rich city for a public school district?

Oh your kid doesn’t go there?

There is no faster way to improve the quality of life in a community over a ten year period than a properly funded, vibrant school district. Crime drops, drug use drops, productivity and innovation goes up. There is something in it for you. At least a little pride maybe.

You are lucky to have Dr. McDonald; he’s a great man. You have new facilities and business personnel. What is this previous Measure BS? You have good people in place including a great COC. Who could use more members. It’s a COC not a PUSDOC. 

Coher.

Francis Boland
PUSD Parent
Former Chair Citizens Oversight Committee