Guest Opinion | Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, PUSD Superintendent, and Jennifer Hall Lee, President, PUSD Board of Education: Protecting Students in a Time of Hard Choices

The Pasadena Unified School District is at a critical moment. Earlier this fall, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) required our district to submit an updated, Board-approved Fiscal Stabilization Plan (FSP) by December 5, 2025, identifying $30-35 million in reductions and/or new revenue for 2026-27 to ensure the district remains financially stable in the coming years.

To confront this challenge, we are guided by PUSD’s Graduate Profile, developed by this community, which calls for graduates who are critical thinkers, strong communicators, and culturally competent global citizens with a heart for their communities. Together with our district’s commitment to equity, these form our north star and guide our every decision and action.

At our Town Hall on November 10, 10th-grader Matea Miyake-Trapp, a student leader and member of the PUSD Student Think Tank, placed students at the center of the conversation.

“Now is the time for bold and visionary leadership,” she said. “We, as student leaders, call upon everyone, the Superintendent and Board, our teachers and staff, PUSD families, as well as our fellow students. We can change the narrative and work together towards what we can confidently expect to do with, instead of focusing on what we must do without…”

Our promise is simple but powerful: students come first. Classrooms will continue to be supportive, safe, and centered on learning. Even with the reductions ahead, what remains is strong. PUSD will continue to offer the special programs that define who we are: arts, music, career technical education, and a rigorous instructional core. These programs reflect our belief that every student deserves access to a well-rounded education that nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and future readiness.

Across the district, signature programs and services will continue to uplift students with academic excellence:

• The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme will remain from elementary through high school. Applying the best practices used by other IB schools, a focused team will coordinate and sustain the Diploma Programme, while primary, middle years, and career programs will transition to shared leadership models supported by the IB organization.

• Career Technical Education academies and pathways will continue to prepare students for college and careers through nine academies: the Academy of Creative Industries, Dev Tech (formerly App Academy), Law & Public Service, Health Careers, Graphic Design Communication Academy, Visual Arts Design Academy, Business and Entrepreneurship (including Sports Management), Engineering and Environmental Science Academy, and Arts, Entertainment, and Media Academy. Students will still participate in internships and connect with industry professionals.

• Dual Language Immersion programs (DLIP) will continue, ensuring that bilingualism and biliteracy remain cornerstones of DLIP and World Language schools.
Magnet programs, including STEM, arts, international themes, and early college, will move forward through a combination of site funds, reimagined program models, specialized grants, and community partners.

• Elementary arts and music will remain part of every child’s experience. Depending on school size, students will continue to receive music and visual arts education 1-3 days per week, with flexibility to rotate grade levels throughout the year. At the secondary level, music and arts electives will continue, sustaining opportunities for performance, creativity, and expression.

• The International Academy will retain smaller class sizes in key areas such as History/Social Science and Science through additional staffing support.

CIF and extracurricular athletics will also stay strong. Our high school principals and athletic directors are collaborating to ensure that all sports will continue to be offered across the district, with at least one of the four high schools hosting each sport. Strategic planning will help offset reductions while maintaining opportunities for student-athletes to compete, learn teamwork, and demonstrate school pride.

Expanded Learning programs (LEARNs) will continue to serve students before and after school, providing safe, enriching environments that support working families and extend learning through homework support, arts, recreation, and sports. Our Community Schools initiative will continue to connect students and families with vital resources, mental health supports, and enrichment opportunities, reflecting our belief that thriving schools are built on strong partnerships between families, educators, and community organizations.

We will also continue to support the staff and services that keep our schools welcoming, safe, and operating, even as these areas experience significant reductions. Custodial and gardening teams, clerical and administrative staff, health services, and family engagement personnel will remain in place across the district, though at reduced levels. Their work may look different next year, but their role remains essential. These employees who open our doors, care for our students and campuses, support our front offices, and connect families to their schools continue to embody the spirit of service that defines PUSD. Their dedication ensures that, even with leaner staffing, our schools remain places where students can learn and grow.

Families and community members will continue to be valued partners and encouraged to participate in school and district-level committees, such as AAPC, CAC, COC, CTE Advisory, DAC, DELAC, ELAC, LCAP PAC, PTA, and SSC.

We will also continue to prioritize academic and emotional support that makes a difference every day.

• Counselors will remain staffed to ratio at all sites.
• Full-time librarians will continue to serve students across high schools, and half-time librarians at all middle schools.
• Career and Financial Aid Advisors will remain in place half-time at each high school to guide students toward college and career success.
• Seven Multitiered System of Supports (MTSS) coaches will continue to provide critical social-emotional and academic support shared by schools.
• Technology Services will retain essential personnel, including computer/telecom, repair, and help desk technicians, to ensure schools remain connected and supported.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to budget transparency, keeping families informed through Board of Education meetings and on our website. And we honor our employees, whose dedication to PUSD is the foundation of our schools, and we approach every decision with care and respect for their contributions.

We know these decisions carry real consequences. Every reduction affects employees, families, and the programs we all value deeply. Yet our responsibility is clear: we must act decisively to protect students and preserve the classroom experience they deserve.

PUSD has faced difficult moments before and has always emerged stronger because of the dedication of everyone in our school community. By confronting budget realities now, openly, carefully, and with compassion, we will ensure that our students continue to have the opportunities, programs, and support they need to succeed.

We invite our community to stay informed and engaged as the Board takes action and monitors implementation. Visit pusd.us/budget for updates on next year’s budget. Together, we’ll keep PUSD strong for every student.

Submitted by Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, PUSD Superintendent, and Jennifer Hall Lee, President, PUSD Board of Education.