Longtime School Trustee George Padilla to Retire

Board of Education Member George A. Padilla announced Wednesday that he is retiring April 30, two years before his term is up.

“I have reached most of my personal goals,” Padilla said. “The demands of my work and the board are putting a strain on me.” Padilla was first elected to the five-member Pasadena Unified board a decade ago when he became the city’s first elected Latino. He served as board president from 1995 to 1997, and is now in his third four-year term.

Padilla, a structural engineer, was among those who led a successful effort for a $240-million bond issue in 1997 to restore campuses.

In a statement Wednesday, he said his proudest moment was two months after his election in 1989, when he awarded his son, George Jr., his high school diploma.

Padilla, 52, has long been an outspoken advocate for higher academic standards, particularly in mathematics, and for Latino students, who constitute more than 40% of the district, which includes Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Altadena.

However, Padilla has come under attack from school activists and council members who complained that he has failed to provide leadership and address the poor academic performance of students.

The board must decide whether to hold a special election or appoint a successor to serve the remainder of his term.