[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6567533,"mediaKeyId","3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327","parentId",3295799,"title","District recognizes volunteers, student leaders, virtual enterprise team and school nutrition director","audioSeconds",1530,"startMs",326000,"endMs",1856000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327&start=326&end=1856","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327/thumbnail_326000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6567533/California/District-recognizes-volunteers-student-leaders-virtual-enterprise-team-and-school-nutrition-director","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567533-aa3c4dc92fd92f935a9be510a305951f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186580&Signature=Ws1Sv8Ut5pPJ4HEU6blJXkpylzcui335ZL2XBRexnUzcVdLqJF9MtlrwBZNRhYylVisKzNN5tiuFQg4dlJgRLRup3U1bCqbvY0GR5dW-cqOaUeqGWNOq-tlahRUHVKSaaDa9jiKZWa8tzH4tm2uNHfr4kGDDbQCYyAxlCjojZnnwKJBb1xLoYe9gTX54cDx0ZfFtj~pRCIthnJowzIwDYP0gSg9pJmtyGKSDdm3xa3eTQc76GEiksv-UA6VWvDYoeCeg2hKqesb2swlZ7I9sKmB0-8CthQBeGf~IzHABCVVirtEWus9Ed39VrbDXDcyeoU9xAjLW63ayg~AR985RZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Pasadena Unified","date","2025-05-13T17:32:00Z","article","The South Pasadena Unified School District board used its May 13 meeting to spotlight volunteers, student leaders and staff achievements.

Volunteer recognition: The board named Bill Buckley the district\u0000s 2025 ACSA Golden Apple Award recipient in absentia and praised his long volunteer record across elementary and secondary schools, including PTA service, booster boards, and leadership of major fundraisers. The board highlighted his work sustaining the Tiger Run during the pandemic with a virtual event that preserved the fundraiser\u0000s 23-year streak.

Student leaders and reflections: Outgoing student board member Sawyer Donaldson delivered remarks summarizing the year and announced plans to attend UC Santa Cruz. Student commissioner Austin Huang presented a reflection on South Pasadena High School\u0000s four core values (strength, scholarship, fair play and leadership) and listed academic and athletic accomplishments, including multiple CIF and state-level championships.

Virtual Enterprise team: Janet Connor, the high school virtual enterprise and entrepreneurship teacher, introduced the SPHS team Fable, which placed second in the nation in the Youth Business Summit financial literacy challenge and earned awards in salesmanship and marketing. Students said their company, Fable, creates customizable succulent kits and described national-level recognition for trade fair sales and a video commercial.

Food service credential: District staff recognized Food and Nutrition Director Jen Smith for passing the School Nutrition Specialist credentialing exam. Superintendent Jeff Yance noted the department serves nearly 5,000 meals per day (about 800,000 meals per school year) and said participation in the district lunch program is nearly 60%. Smith thanked the board and staff for support and described the department\u0000s emphasis on scratch cooking, wholesomeness and student relationships.

The board applauded the honorees and the staff who supported student programs and extracurricular successes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Pasadena Unified - 2025 Regular Board of Education Meeting May 13th, 2025 - May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board honored longtime volunteer Bill Buckley with the district\u0000s Golden Apple Award, recognized student leaders and a nationally successful virtual enterprise team, and congratulated Food and Nutrition Director Jen Smith for earning a School Nutrition Specialist credential.","taxTitle","South Pasadena Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",65603,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6567553,"South Pasadena board hears EdTech committee recommendation to keep phones off during instruction; K–8 ‘away for the day’ proposed",4689,4299000,8988000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327&start=4299&end=8988","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327/thumbnail_4299000.jpg","/articles/6567553/California/South-Pasadena-board-hears-EdTech-committee-recommendation-to-keep-phones-off-during-instruction-K8-away-for-the-day-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567553-357a1560195a1520c19eb115b08d0bd6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186580&Signature=dvFKef5mKB6MJ1dQmwUrkEKZa9jqo1tYEzx3hDPV8Nhr9o5D2UmBE80YkV5HyZB8asLQcWN5JYUE-q1BTfb4e1yAhANbtMABZFHgTT41DbS1jvuZuNT08sWjVC6DRawiHTbhj7Wvasn1k8OkUBFH6IcJ4MP~n892yIScElfVVMnMILr7o2TNfgcZTccBdyFTQQxYQo37kq66nU4Q9jGwGlDQKizajed6JIvui6z9804ppd-Ad60Pv~V-0YbH25WXi7eiIWOPXfaa-L~dTQZRKpYCDrPvdRcwG40MXzw4lsKCS1aAiL5cie-R65Jh6sVHhT8BJr6dTBBk-sXlNaiAMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday heard a detailed report and recommendations from its EdTech committee on limits to student mobile device use.

The committee recommended keeping devices \"away for the day\" at elementary and middle schools and retaining a developmental approach at the high school that prohibits device use during instructional time but allows access during brunch, lunch and passing periods. The presentation summarized parent, student and staff survey results and proposed operational steps — including monitoring software for district Chromebooks and a parent-facing monitoring app — for next school year.

The recommendations grew from a nine-month process the committee said included teachers, parents, site administrators and student leaders. Ms. Gervais, who led the presentation for district staff, said the work began after California\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Phone Free Schools Act and said the draft policy is ahead of the July 2026 statutory deadline.

Committee members presented separate results by level. At the elementary level, 86% of parent respondents supported the current practice of restricting devices during the day; teachers and staff largely agreed. The committee recommended prohibiting device use during instructional time, recess, brunch and lunch unless a teacher or administrator grants permission, and adding earbuds/headphones and pagers to the policy\u0000definition of mobile communication devices.

At the middle school level, 83% of parents agreed with the policy; student support was lower. The committee\u0000recommended a policy aligned with the elementary approach: broadly \"away for the day,\" with limited, teacher-granted exceptions.

For the high school, the committee reported mixed results: 72% of parents supported the current policy that prohibits phones during instruction but allows them at brunch and lunch. Student presenters Sienna Drake and Natasha Ray, both seniors and ASB leaders, told the board students generally preferred the balanced approach. \"Allowing phones during breaks makes students more likely to comply with the policy during instructional time,\" Sienna said, adding that banning phones at the high school previously had increased tension between students and administrators.

The committee also recommended operational steps unrelated to the draft policy text: roll out ClassWise monitoring for district Chromebooks, require students to sign in with district accounts on school devices so teachers can monitor activity, consider a phased approach to the district\u0000bring-your-own-device practice at the high school, and develop additional digital citizenship education and parent training.

Board members probed enforcement and equity concerns. Multiple trustees said enforcement logistics and unintended consequences must be examined before adopting any more stringent policy, and asked staff for implementation options that would not shift an undue enforcement burden onto teachers.

Superintendent Jeff Yance and committee members said the district will pilot expanded teacher training on Chromebook monitoring, provide parent education on the new monitoring tool, and return to the board with additional information and a recommended timeline. The board directed staff to return to the board as a discussion item in June with implementation and enforcement details so members could consider action later in the month or at a subsequent meeting.

No final policy was adopted Tuesday; the board did not vote on the draft. The committee\u0000members emphasized that work on social media and generative AI remains a priority for next year.","The South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday heard EdTech committee recommendations to restrict student mobile device use: \"away for the day\" at elementary and middle schools and limited access at the high school during breaks, with staff asked to return in June with implementation details.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6567538,"Civil-rights group calls on South Pasadena Unified to act after reported racist incidents; asks for training and revised policies",292,2216000,2508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327&start=2216&end=2508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327/thumbnail_2216000.jpg","/articles/6567538/California/Civil-rights-group-calls-on-South-Pasadena-Unified-to-act-after-reported-racist-incidents-asks-for-training-and-revised-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567538-ba5905755c77d6c70610e44290329ede/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186580&Signature=L463cUFbouxnA6ZAKVT~XLUy7c0u3Q3ObGNu8i8hFcmlldQCzGdnzHPg~MfkyU11pKzPCSROSMIBidTVbIVLoprG4MTqcxOBXpu3AnYVg3j158aBpRGW-ZHt2BuUmXktiCoAyALPagUDDM69Qz1EcMvTGIrMneo5-42WM18yhSzQSFYCj4xYiNrfChx8IbVYpJ38w2LM9YWt0T3M06btGPIKflwRoWKMW13cn16AZnYtsMAubwNDGNKxZQsEFKosibY~575DHYdvNPwqfAjOJGxSGmkQcCKC3~2wgRRnL3YelFDkFVZYxi3w82Fjp95bqdAKC8QvD6oMKJEWaIju4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Connie Chung Jo, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, told the South Pasadena Unified School District board Tuesday she has received reports of several racist and xenophobic incidents at both the middle and high schools and urged immediate district action.

Chung Jo said one middle-school incident involved a group of girls who told another student \"go back to China\" and threatened deportation. At the high school she described a science project that used a sombrero-and-maracas caricature to depict an infection in a class booklet and said students have used terms such as \"border hoppers.\" She said teachers have sometimes dismissed or failed to address those expressions immediately.

\"It makes me extremely sad to be here to report that I've heard several disturbing cases of racist and xenophobic expression by students,\" she said, and asked the district to take immediate steps: review and clarify policies and reporting protocols; train teachers and administrators on recognizing and responding to hate incidents (including when the act is committed by a student of the same race as the target); provide age-appropriate lessons for students about racism and xenophobia; and post resources such as \"hate-free zone\" signage on campuses.

Chung Jo offered her organization's assistance in providing resources and training.

The district heard a number of public commenters on student wellbeing and technology policy during the meeting. Board members later reiterated district values of equity and inclusion and said there is no place for hate in the schools, and the board accepted Chung Jo's recommendations for consideration in district policy and training planning. No formal board action was taken on the specific requests at Tuesday's meeting.","Connie Chung Jo of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California told the board she had received reports of racist and xenophobic student expressions at both the middle school and high school, described two incidents and urged the district to revise policies, train staff and students and post resources.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6567543,"Board approves consent items, fiscal routine resolutions and construction change order; summary of votes",744,8871000,9615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327&start=8871&end=9615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327/thumbnail_8871000.jpg","/articles/6567543/California/Board-approves-consent-items-fiscal-routine-resolutions-and-construction-change-order-summary-of-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567543-329ca9b8a4c4e668eaa33c54f6421a61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186580&Signature=eCzhETjrSiEV~0NCoX04nGH~NhmjrZ-XT1XY228G1mEQN~O5WsgsglAmwrjmbwoteFMadfXgCw9EDcEFYAQF1-08VeAeNo0KpDU9t2rA4d6ajIT~lUzV3gr1PITLB3tAfrtvKD26VgSUjtWV8YY8SjCBu2LnqVy~81rtJotv~kLAJV7a1Bviyyon0gr7Ti4oOXfTrC5oor3Fg1XX6SnepsTdbtgAmePoQxhKAkd117fiBkibMGnJhjz~9tE6Oa7w1NoH3B7ZTBqJrc0xDpqZk9MgQUcPJ7ZR1XDuv-KYGenVrYvgS6nKl-gA6j-F5rnQ72J4DKqg7Sw7k89YHD7eXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education on May 13 moved several routine items and recorded votes on a number of consent and fiscal actions. The board voted on multiple agenda items with roll-call tallies as recorded on the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 8.01\u0000through 8.21): motion made and seconded; roll call recorded unanimous approval.
- Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators (item 9.01): approved unanimously; required annually for Commission on Teacher Credentialing filings.
- Classified School Employee Week (item 9.02): approved unanimously; recognition to take place May 18\u0000through 24.
- Change Order No. 2 (item 9.03) for installation/protection of ducting at the middle school auditorium: approved unanimously; board discussion noted the work is near completion and the change order addresses water protection around new ducting.
- Resolution on temporary cash borrowing (item 9.04) and interfund cash borrowing (item 9.05): both annual authorizations passed unanimously to preserve short-term cash management flexibility.
- Employment contract for superintendent (item 9.06): approved unanimously (see separate story for details).

Closed-session reports

The board reported two closed-session approvals and personnel actions in open session:
- Approved a 60% personal leave of absence for certificated employee #0857166 for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years (board vote 5-0).
- Approved personal leaves for a classified employee (HR7514856) and another certificated employee (WE3583262) for specified dates; both were voted 5-0 in closed session.
- Approved two settlement agreements involving student matters (student ID 2732455675 and student ID 8443859657); roll-call votes were 5-0.

All recorded votes on the items above were unanimous as reflected on the public transcript.","At its May 13 meeting the board approved the consent agenda (8.01\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000), routine fiscal resolutions, a construction change order, and other items by recorded roll-call votes; settlement agreements and personnel leaves were reported from closed session.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6567548,"Board unanimously hires Dr. Angela Elizondo Baxter as next superintendent; three-year contract begins July 1",579,9156000,9735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327&start=9156&end=9735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295799-df3eb6412ee10e5989abe19e6821c327/thumbnail_9156000.jpg","/articles/6567548/California/Board-unanimously-hires-Dr-Angela-Elizondo-Baxter-as-next-superintendent-three-year-contract-begins-July-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567548-d625e1555646b89e15b8f0401786d44b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186580&Signature=l-ooxfMBvcD9r-qDxzm3~xDl7AwJv6xVcjR5aHWnnPnRN6O~7Qw3orc6zaymv~Mw9tEJzU9mDulk1is4vDDLRDSdMa-m62erVGpXfWpg51A8mBolt3IJ5ieujhFeMfQdQM2dl5Hn~xRoq8h9BnjJ6~DKpe3g9zkjolrYqffnt5YTVu0-T~tSYId5aNz~Mmu-sfr9vitDotsBLO6nbnuduaivK4v3bBpkyEn7LMeGDD4K9QIoWPy4fZ8077Mg0WT0QZti44bAR2w8WZZ92IxSod1kXVcppKjsjy16pPD-NKzL~Kx6IzB~mH~ZQxmXgyQQkG6yRJlc5BRBR8NGrXdzUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday voted unanimously to hire Dr. Angela Elizondo Baxter as superintendent under a contract that begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2028.

Under the terms presented to the board, Dr. Baxter\u0000\u0000will start at an annual salary of $285,000 (corresponding to step 1 of the district salary schedule). The agreement requires the board and superintendent to agree on annual goals, requires at least one written evaluation per year, and allows the board and Dr. Baxter to negotiate extensions beginning on or after July 1, 2027, contingent on a satisfactory evaluation.

Board members praised outgoing Superintendent Jeff Yance for his 12 years of service and the strength of the district leadership team Dr. Baxter will inherit. Several trustees thanked the community and the search consultants for participation in the hiring process.

Dr. Baxter, who addressed the board after the vote, said she looked forward to beginning her \"thirtieth year in public education\" with the district and to meeting families, staff and students in the coming weeks. \"I believe in a robust public education,\" she said. \"I am thrilled to continue and build on the good work that Dr. Yance has built here.\"

The motion to approve the contract was moved and seconded at the meeting; the roll call vote recorded all trustees in favor.","The Board of Education voted 5-0 to approve a contract with Dr. Angela Elizondo Baxter to begin July 1 and run through June 30, 2028, at an annual salary of $285,000. The contract requires annual written evaluations and allows extension after July 1, 2027.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District recognizes volunteers, student leaders, virtual enterprise team and school nutrition director

South Pasadena board hears EdTech committee recommendation to keep phones off during instruction; K–8 ‘away for the day’ proposed

Civil-rights group calls on South Pasadena Unified to act after reported racist incidents; asks for training and revised policies

Board approves consent items, fiscal routine resolutions and construction change order; summary of votes

Board unanimously hires Dr. Angela Elizondo Baxter as next superintendent; three-year contract begins July 1