Pasadena School Board to Consider Launching Study on Potential School Closures

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education will meet Thursday evening and consider commissioning a comprehensive study on potential school closures and consolidations, a significant step that could reshape the District’s footprint as it grapples with years of declining enrollment.

The Board is scheduled to vote on a consulting services agreement with Total School Solutions, a firm that would conduct what agenda documents describe as a “comprehensive school closure/consolidation study.” The proposal comes as the District continues to face pressure from shrinking student populations, a trend affecting many California school districts.

In a related action item, the Board will consider adopting Resolution 2857, which would establish equity impact analysis metrics required under Assembly Bill 1912 (Education Code 41329) to guide evaluation of any future school closures or consolidations. The state legislation mandates that districts considering such actions must demonstrate conformance with specific equity metrics before proceeding.

The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room at 351 S. Hudson Ave. in Pasadena. The open session begins at approximately 6:45 p.m. following a closed session. The meeting will be broadcast live on Charter Cable Channel 95 and streamed online at live.boardmeetings.info.

Eaton Fire Emergency Attendance Resolution

The Board will also vote on Resolution 2854, which requests authorization to submit Form J-13 to the California Department of Education. The form seeks an allowance of attendance for schools that experienced a “material decrease in attendance due to the Eaton Fire and associated windstorm emergency conditions during the 2024-2025 school year,” according to agenda documents.

The J-13 waiver process allows districts to recover funding that would otherwise be lost when students cannot attend school due to emergency conditions beyond the district’s control.

Additionally, the consent agenda includes two items extending local emergency declarations under Board of Education Resolutions 2797 and 2798, along with ratification of contracts awarded under delegated emergency authority.

Student Achievement Presentation

District staff will present an update on Latino and Hispanic student success initiatives, introducing what agenda documents describe as “Focus Priorities for Latino(a) students.” The presentation is listed under staff presentations for the evening session.

Commemorative Resolutions

The Board will consider two commemorative resolutions during its opening session. Resolution 2855 recognizes Black History Month, honoring contributions of Black individuals throughout history. Resolution 2856 recognizes Fred Korematsu Day on January 30, honoring Korematsu’s “courageous stand for civil liberties and constitutional rights,” according to the resolution language.

Facilities Projects

The consent agenda includes several facilities items, among them Amendment No. 3 with Ericson-Hall Construction for the John Muir High School Modernization Project. The amendment establishes a guaranteed maximum price for interim housing associated with the school’s gym and pool modernization work.

The Board will also consider awarding a professional services agreement to Swift Lee Office for architectural design services for a security upgrade project at Blair High School.

Other facilities matters include approval of an amendment for outdoor learning and campus improvements at Altadena Arts Magnet, laboratory services for the John Muir modernization project, and restroom upgrades at Hamilton, Jackson, and Norma Coombs elementary schools.

Closed Session

Prior to the public meeting, the Board will convene in closed session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss four existing litigation matters, public employment discipline matters, and labor negotiations. Sergio Canal, Chief Human Resources Officer, is listed as the labor negotiator for discussions involving United Teachers of Pasadena, California School Employees Association, Teamsters, PACTE, and unrepresented employees.

Public Participation

Members of the public wishing to address the Board must complete a yellow speaker card available at the meeting room entrance. Public comment on agendized and non-agendized items is scheduled from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Individual speakers are allowed between one and three minutes.

Written comments may be submitted via email to publiccomment@pusd.us and should be clearly marked “Public Comment.” Written comments will not be read aloud but will become part of archived agenda documents.

The full agenda and attachments are available by clicking here. Individuals requiring special accommodations should contact the Superintendent’s office at 626-396-3619 at least 48 hours before the meeting.