The Pasadena Board of Education could vote to once again grant Superintendent Brian McDonald emergency powers that would allow him to expend funds and close schools to combat a local health emergency.
“The resolution is to simply grant me the authority to make swift decisions and have them ratified at a later date by the board,” McDonald told Pasadena Now on Monday. “I had this authority throughout the pandemic and the board will discuss whether or not to reinstate it.”
McDonald’s previous emergency powers expired on June 30.
The resolution authorizes the superintendent to take any and all actions necessary to ensure the continuation of public education and the health and safety of the students and staff at district sites.
It also “authorizes the superintendent, at any time, to declare the necessity to close a school site or a classroom to in-person instruction, or halt any in-person service provided by the district, as needed to respond to health conditions,” according to the resolution.
The superintendent would also be able to move the district from in-person instruction to remote instruction, as needed to respond to health conditions.
The superintendent would be able to wield the emergency powers, including utilizing any and all funding from one-time coronavirus aid in accordance with changing conditions, without requiring specific authorization from the Board of Education for expenditures, providing these expenditures are reported for ratification at a subsequent regular board meeting.
The resolution could be overridden by state health orders, or if the Los Angeles County Department of Health declares the coronavirus conditions no longer pose a public health threat.
It was not immediately known whether the resolution would sunset if the Pasadena Health Department made a similar declaration ending the public health threat.
Last week, the district came under fire for misreporting numbers on its COVID-19 dashboard after unvaccinated seventh graders were sent home to quarantine after two students tested positive for COVID-19.
Initially, the district reported no new infections at Marshall Fundamental, where the incident occurred. Later, the district’s dashboard was corrected to report 344 teachers and staff members had been forced to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposures.
In an email on Sunday night, McDonald said that the district will adopt a state health order that requires students to show vaccinations or submit to weekly testing.
The district also plans to hire additional health care professionals to perform the testing.
“Transparency is a core belief of our district,” McDonald said in an email Sunday night. “As such, we will provide as much information as possible so that you can make informed decisions for your children. This includes releasing the number of positive cases as often as possible. Cases are reported on the District’s COVID-19 Dashboard which is updated twice each week. Under the press of multiple obligations, we didn’t get last week’s COVID-19 Dashboard right. For that, we apologize. We have taken immediate steps so that it is as accurate as possible in the future.”
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One thought on “School Board Could Restore Superintendent’s Emergency Powers”
Why do PUSD Board continue to lie to the parents about the remote learning, school protocol, & the Dashboard. I am a parent of a high schooler and K students. I have been watching PUSD Parent/Board Meetings, was on a Parent Zoom call, seen Covid Protocols not followed (i.e. Crossing Guard on Raymond & Howard not wearing a mask,/nor a face shield, and crossing our little ones who cannot be vaccinated). This is a Risk to our children. I was on a Parent Zoom call the Sat. before school started. PUSD told the parents to call our City Council & have the legislative restore remote learning due to it expiring. PUSD could not restore it per PUSD. Parents requested remote learning at the Board Meetings and on the Zoom call. How is it now all of a sudden, all is needed is the Board Approval. Why send parents on a wild goose chase when PUSD could have done this in the 1st place, instead of packing the classrooms risking students and teachers health? I am a parent that reported my concerns to the Superindent e-mail when I personally saw some COVID-Protocols not being adhered to when the schools re-opened in April 2021 & week before School started in August when I went on campus. One of the schools I had a concerned about had a COVID Case. In addition, I asked who is going to ensure Covid-19 Protocols are being followed, who is going to check to ensure the schools are following the protocols and proper signage. I even called and talk to PUSD in regards to the Crossing guard putting our children at risk with no mask. Even Pasadena Black Pages rep. Rode on their bike and seen this man cough. PUSD assured it was going to be taking care of the next day. Here we are a week into schoolCrossing guard still does not have a mask on, and 344 Covid Cases. How safe is this? Pray daily for the safety of all the students & staff.