School Transfer Bid Rejected
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let stand a court ruling that prevents the transfer of a three-block county area from Pasadena Unified School District to the academically stronger San Marino Unified School District.
The nine justices refused to hear an appeal by John Musser and the other 125 residents of an affluent, unincorporated neighborhood along San Pasqual Street.
The legal battle began three years ago when the Pasadena Unified School District challenged in court a vote by residents of the San Pasqual area to leave its district and join San Marino Unified.
The Pasadena district was unsuccessful at the trial court level, but the state Court of Appeals nullified the residents’ election and ruled all Pasadena district voters must vote on the transfer.
Pasadena Supt. Vera Vignes said the case illustrates that the courts are not going to allow Anglo areas of predominantly urban school districts to transfer to other jurisdictions, leaving minorities increasingly isolated.
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