UTP Announces School Board Endorsements

United Teachers of Pasadena (UTP) announced its endorsement for school board late last week.

The union, which represents teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses in the Pasadena Unified School District, voted to endorse Jennifer Hall Lee for Pasadena Unified School District School Board District 2, Patrick Cahalan for PUSD School Board District 4 and Tina Fredericks for PUSD School Board District 6.

The UTP Political Action Interview Panel, consisting of teachers working in the Pasadena Unified School District, invited all candidates to participate in the interview process in August. The recommendations were approved by the UTP Political Action committee, UTP Executive Board, and the UTP Representative Council in August. United Teachers of Pasadena represents the teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses, psychologists, and speech-language pathologists serving the students in PUSD.

The three candidates support Proposition 15—Schools and Communities First. According to supporters, Proposition 15 will adjust the formulas used by tax assessors. Individual homeowners and business owners with private property values less than $3 million will still fall under Proposition 13 protections; but the biggest corporations will have to pay higher property taxes in light of their continuously assessed values.

The increased tax revenue will be spent on education and other public services.

“The candidates support Proposition 15—Schools and Communities First; broadcasting to the public and community about the exceptional education experiences at our schools; being exemplary stewards of sustainable budgets; promoting student academic success; social justice and for continuous parent and community engagement,” according to a prepared statement by the union.