At Monday Forum PUSD Candidates Discuss Strategies to Boost District Enrollment

Candidates for the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education addressed the District’s declining enrollment and other top issues at a forum on Monday, October 8, proposing solutions in an event that featured candidates for contested Trustee Areas 2 and 6.

In Trustee Area 2, incumbent Jennifer Hall Lee faces challenger Juan Carlos Pérez, while in Trustee Area 6, current Board member Tina Wu Fredericks is competing against challenger Lisa Kroese. The race for Trustee Area 4 is uncontested, with Scott Harden running unopposed.

Moderated by the League of Women Voters, the forum provided a platform for candidates to discuss their proposed solutions to pressing issues facing the District.

“We have the highest number of private schools per capita. We have 8,000 kids in private schools. We have 2000 in charter, that’s 10,000, which would really help our bottom line,” said incumbent Jennifer Hall Lee, who is running for re-election in Trustee Area 2.

Hall Lee highlighted her efforts to boost enrollment, including inspiring the creation of the Superintendent’s Enrollment Committee. The Committee meets monthly to discuss ways to increase student numbers in the District.

Juan Carlos Pérez, Hall Lee’s challenger for the Area 2 seat, emphasized the need for improved marketing of Pasadena Unified School District schools and data-driven decision-making. He noted that high schools have maintained steadier enrollment than K-8 schools.

“If we want to increase enrollment, get some of those families back into PUSD, we need to go out there and talk to them where they are,” Pérez said. He suggested introducing more culturally relevant curriculum to appeal to Black and Latino families, acknowledging the impact of historical issues like redlining and systemic racism on current perceptions of schools.

In the race for Trustee Area 6, incumbent Tina Wu Fredericks stressed the importance of understanding what motivates parents to choose different schools. “Parents want predictability. They want to see stability from K through high school,” she said.

Lisa Kroese, Fredericks’ challenger, highlighted her work with local realtors to promote Pasadena Unified School District.

“I work with the Pasadena Foothill Association of Realtors as a realtor and I promote and I am a member of their PUSD certified program,” Kroese said. The program educates realtors about District programs and schools.

The candidates discussed other critical issues facing the District, including budget constraints, teacher retention, school greening initiatives, support for immigrant students, and the impact of housing insecurity on student outcomes.

Some candidates suggested potential partnerships with the Pasadena City Council to promote Pasadena Unified School District, proposing that Councilmembers encourage constituents to attend District events and collaborate on shared community spaces.

The forum, which took place at the Pasadena Unified School District Board room, was live-streamed on “PUSD Candidates Forum” and recorded for later release on the League’s YouTube channel, making it accessible to a wider audience.

It was a collaboration between PEN, the PTA Council, the African American Parent Council, the Community Advisory Committee, and the Foster Youth Council.