Pasadena School Board Affirms Administrative Law Judge’s Decision to Rescind Some Layoffs

The Pasadena Unified School Board Thursday voted 7-0 on a resolution to affirm a decision by Administrative Law Judge Erlinda G. Shrenger regarding the reduction of 18.6 certificated District employees, “because of a reduction or discontinuance of particular kinds of services.”

“We always regret having to lay off staff,” said PUSD Board President Scott Phelps, following the meeting, “but because of declining enrollment, it is necessary in most years.”

The Board, on February 25, 2021, had authorized the Superintendent to not reemploy the equivalent of 18.6 full-time equivalent certificated employees.

But in an administrative action, Judge Shrenger rescinded some of the layoffs.

Some of the certificated employees affected, according to Thursdays’ resolution No. 2611, received precautionary notices which provided for their potential termination “only if the District’s arguments regarding the need to retain such persons were rejected in the impending layoff hearing.”

Other employees served with layoff letters failed to request a hearing, thereby waiving a layoff hearing, said the resolution. Three layoff notices were withdrawn, and for those certificated employees who requested a hearing and filed a Notice of Participation, a layoff hearing was held on April 15, 2021.

Employees Martin Dorado, a teacher at Madison Elementary; Veronica Martinez, a teacher at Altadena Arts Magnet; Katherine Mickelson of Washington Elementary STEM Magnet school, and Andrea Flores of Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, were all declared subject to layoff in the decision.

According to Judge Schrenger’s decision, layoff notices were eventually rescinded for employees Kevin Bice of Blair High School; Anthony Bonoli, Sara Dave, and Billie Johnson from the Vanguard program at Mckinley; Joyce Din, and Stephanie Norton.