Pasadena Unified School District (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
Pasadena Unified School District Board Member Tina Fredericks filed a lawsuit on October 20 seeking to invalidate Board Protocols on the ground that they violate the PUSD Board Members’ free speech, free petition, and free press rights.
By News Desk
The Board Protocols in question require Board Members to:
- submit opinion pieces to the Superintendent and Board President before their publication,
- prohibit Board Members from collaborating on opinion pieces without approval of the full Board, and
- restrict what Board Members may say in opinion pieces about other Board Members.
In a press release sent to our newsroom, Fredericks said: “I am having to protect the outside expressive rights of all Board Members.” She added that “the controversy has arisen because I wrote op-eds supporting a COVID vaccine mandate without clearing them with the Superintendent and the President and because l have appeared at a press conference with Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo urging that PUSD adopt a vaccine mandate, and because I have solicited support for a vaccine mandate through a petition from PUSD residents.”
Fredericks attorneys, the Pasadena Civil Rights firm the Law Office of Gronemeier & Hickambottom, sent the PUSD Board a 19-page demand letter on October 6 setting out legal authority that pre-publication restraints on free speech/petition/press rights are prohibited and that elected officials have the same rights as other person to engage in expressive activity. It demanded that the Board rescind the allegedly unconstitutional Protocols by October 15. In the press release, attorney Dale Gronemeier stated that PUSD didn’t try to meet the deadline and that his firm was representing Frederick pro bono.
Attorney Elbie J. Hickambottom, Jr., expects to serve the Board Members with the lawsuit at the beginning of the 6:00 pm Board meeting, October 21, according to the press release.
How about improve the school system first, which should be the priority.
We could have had our Crystal Miller Czubernat elected!!!!
She actually voted for this protocol and is now suing over it. She’s a grandstander. Our own Majorie Taylor Green.
There’s really no other way to resolve this other than legal action? There’s no open communication within the board to discuss, amend and change? Or no just following the rules? Legal action? Will there be a financial settlement?
ANOTHER financial settlement out of PUSD’s pockets that already have holes in them?
Someone explain the possible ramifications to me, please.
Claire Smitty that’s exactly the reason she’s suing. no open communication between board members is allowed outside the board meetings, and during the meetings they are only allowed to discuss whatever is on the meeting agenda. she tried to include a discussion regarding COVID vaccine mandate in the agenda but it was declined several times.