Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Castaic School Board Member Submits Early Resignation

Jane Pederson, a Castaic school board member whose term was to expire later this year, unexpectedly submitted her resignation Monday.

In a short letter submitted to the Castaic Union School District, Pederson did not cite a reason for her early resignation.

“It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation, effective this date,” Pederson wrote. “I feel that I am unable to perform my duties effectively at this time. I have felt this way for a year and hoped that I would be able to continue until my term expired, but I simply cannot do so.”

District officials acknowledged that the last two years have been unusually tumultuous, with the board divided on many issues. Pederson was finishing her first term and had decided not to run for reelection in November.

Other board members expressed surprise at her decision to end her term two months early, but acknowledged that the board’s recent divisiveness had taken a heavy toll on Pederson.

“The last two years have been hard on all of us, and she will be sorely missed by a lot of people,” said board President Irene Massey, who encouraged Pederson to run for office.

Much of the division among board members had been over the performance of Supt. Scott Brown. Pederson was part of a three-member majority that had generally supported Brown.

Most recently, Brown was accused of misconduct in the use of a school district charge card. Brown had charged about $1,200 in personal expenses on the card, promptly repaying the district. A review of the expenses drew a letter of warning from the county Office of Education in July, and Brown promised to stop the practice.

“Let’s call a spade a spade,” Brown said. “There has been conflict on our board for probably a good year and a half, and my observation is that that conflict has really taken a toll on Jane Pederson.”