The meeting was the last community meeting before the District knuckles down to discussing the specifics of the fiscal stability plan it must finalize quickly and ultimately to the LA County Office of Education (LACOE), which oversees the district’s financial fate and future.
“Tonight’s discussion addresses critical financial challenges facing our district,” said G. Alpert, Executive Director of Collaborate PASadena, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in navigating the budget crisis.
Board President Jennifer Hall-Lee outlined the district’s fiscal situation: declining enrollment, the depletion of one-time COVID-19 relief funds, and rising costs. She noted that PUSD must submit a Board-approved Fiscal Stabilization Plan (FSP) by December 5 which identifies $30 to $35 million in reduced spending.
Hall-Lee highlighted past efforts to stabilize the district’s finances, including $13.8 million in reductions during 2024-25, primarily from central office operations, while protecting classrooms from cuts.
Should the district’s plans ultimately not be approved by LACOE, the agency could immediately take over district leadership and run the district itself in the spring of 2026.
“The district reconvened the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee (SBAC) to review and prioritize options for reducing school-based services,” Hall-Lee said.
The SBAC includes students, educators, labor partners, parents, and community members, providing guidance to ensure student-centered decisions despite financial pressures.
Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco highlighted preliminary data showing improvements in graduation rates, A–G completion, college and career readiness, and attendance, alongside decreases in chronic absenteeism and suspensions.
“Despite the Eaton Fire and other challenges, our children are doing better than they were before,” Blanco said.
Blanco also discussed revenue-generation efforts, including a staff housing project expected to bring in $1.2 million to $2 million and a proposed joint occupancy at the District’s Linda Vista property.
“We have a moral imperative to make these financial cuts because we have to preserve the district for the children that are here today and the children that are coming tomorrow,” she said.
Student leaders also emphasized the importance of keeping students at the center of every decision.
Lula Matsuura, a sophomore at John Muir High School, and Matea Miyake-Trapp, a sophomore at Pasadena High, shared personal stories highlighting how COVID and the Eaton fire affected their peers. Miyake-Trapp urged the community to work together to provide stability and resources for future students, calling for bold, collaborative leadership.
Community members asked about potential property sales, long-term revenue, and school consolidations.
Hall-Lee noted past consolidation discussions and the complexity of such decisions, noting ongoing litigation and state-mandated equity studies. Dr. Chan-Hill highlighted the SBAC’s role in ensuring diverse perspectives guide these decisions and reiterated the focus on the “instructional core” — teachers, students, and content.
Questions also addressed teacher retention, program sustainability, and ways parents and community partners could help fill gaps.
Blanco emphasized that while some programs may be reconfigured for efficiency, none has been eliminated, and the district continues to prioritize high-quality educational offerings.
A number of parents expressed support for campus consolidations, a move the district has considered several times before but has never acted upon due to community pushback.
As PUSD moves toward submitting its Fiscal Stability Plan to the Los Angeles County Office of Education, both leaders and community members stressed that ongoing dialogue, transparency, and collaboration will be crucial in navigating one of the district’s most critical financial periods in recent history.
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