Judge Invalidates Vote on School District Secession

In the latest twist of a long-running battle between Pasadena school officials and 71 homeowners who want to secede from the district, a state Court of Appeal has invalidated a 1991 election in which the residents voted to become part of the San Marino Unified School District.

Appellate Court Judge P. J. Gates last week ordered a second election to give all residents of the Pasadena Unified School District an opportunity to vote. In a 1991 election sanctioned by the state Board of Education, the 71 families voted to secede from Pasadena Unified. The district went to court to keep the families from joining San Marino schools.

“If the transfer is allowed to stand there would be nothing to keep privileged pockets from seceding and joining more affluent school districts,” school district attorney Carolyn Carlburg said. The 71 families live in an unincorporated territory that falls under the jurisdiction of Pasadena schools.