School Board: A Standing Ovation for Parcel Tax Committee

What started as a handful of people who wanted to make sure their kids sat in reasonably sized classes and retained their art programs, ended up a core group of 24 -- with hundreds of volunteers - who helped convince 73 percent of South Pasadena voters to pay a higher parcel tax. 

The South Pasadena Unified School District honored members of the Yes on S Committee, who trekked through neighborhoods, knocked on doors and called registered voters asking them to approve the parcel tax, at a higher rate, for another five years. The tax, which increased from $288 to $386 per unit (whether single home or apartment complex), will generate some $2.3 million annually for the district. 

The tax's passage also means about 30 teachers won't get pink slips this year.

Peter Seo, a senior at South Pasadena High School and the student representative to the governing board, looked at committee members and thanked them for everything they did.

"Everything you guys have done effects us...as students,'' he said, adding that the students are the ones who would feel changes to the classroom and changes to the staffing level.

To hear what other board members had to say, please click on the video attached to this article. 

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