Parent and former employee raise IEP and termination concerns as South Pasadena Unified board approves consent items and committee appointments

The South Pasadena Unified Board of Education received public comment from two speakers raising operational concerns and then approved routine business, including consent items and committee appointments.

Deborah Bedevian told the board she enrolled three sons in the district and described ongoing special-education problems with her eldest that required postsecondary remediation. She said her youngest, Matthew, returned from an out-of-state placement and later learned he was missing about 15 credits needed for graduation after changes to an IEP and ALPS course placement. "This is an egregious error that demands a creative solution, an apology, and then a plan for delivering the news to my son," Bedevian said.

Alyssa Dela Torre, who said she had been employed as the high‑school attendance clerk starting August 2025, alleged that during a Jan. 8 meeting her supervisor (identified in her remarks as John Aldrin) accused her of actions she denies and that on Jan. 23 she was released from her position without HR present. Dela Torre said her final paycheck arrived more than a week later and did not include vacation pay, and that she believes board‑approval procedures for eliminated positions were not followed.

Separately, the board reported out from closed session that it approved two requests for personal leave for certificated employees (employee IDs NW5700201 for 05/18/2026–05/29/2026 and KH4889579 for 03/20/2026–04/27/2026) and approved two settlement agreements for student IDs 512864 and 383563; the board reported these closed-session votes as unanimous (5–0).

Following public comment the board moved the consent agenda (items 8.01–8.23) and approved it unanimously. The board then approved action items including:

- 9.01: updated signature certification for the director of fiscal services (motion approved); - 9.02: regular board meeting dates for the 2026–27 school year (approved); - 9.03: adoption of new and revised board policies, including folding BP 5145.13 (Response to Immigration) into other policies consistent with Education Code changes (approved); - 9.04 and 9.05: appointments to citizens oversight committees for Measure S (parcel tax) and Measure SP (bond), including several newly named members.

Board President Kipke and trustees thanked community volunteers and oversight committee members for their service. The meeting adjourned after completing the agenda.

What the board will do next: staff will return with materials the board requested (including the March 3 bond resolution and any staff follow-up on the public comments) and will proceed with the approved routine items.