Pasadena School Board to Consider Textbook Sufficiency, Review $200 Million Bond Plan at Thursday Meeting

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education will convene Thursday evening to certify textbook sufficiency, review a $200 million bond issuance strategy, and vote on environmental exemptions for campus modernization projects, among other pressing matters.

There is no agenda item focused explicitly on the District’s budget deficit.

The meeting is scheduled for a 5 p.m. closed session and a 6 p.m. open session at the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave. The public portion will be broadcast live on Charter Channel 95 and streamed online.

Trustees will hold a public hearing and vote on Resolution 2839, affirming that all students have access to adequate instructional materials in mathematics, science, history-social science, reading/language arts, and foreign language for the 2025–2026 school year. The resolution states that “each classroom uses one or more textbooks from this approved list” for the academic year. The annual certification ensures compliance with state textbook sufficiency requirements.

A second public hearing will address the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Pasadena Chapter 434’s initial proposal for a successor collective bargaining agreement with the district.

The Board will also hear a staff presentation — prepared by the district’s financial advisor — on its updated Debt Management Strategy, which proposes issuing $100 million in Measure O (2020) Series D bonds and $100 million in Measure R (2024) Series A bonds. Measure O’s final installment would complete its $516.3 million authorization, while Measure R’s first issuance would leave $800 million available for future projects.

Pasadena voters approved Measure O Bonds during the November 3, 2020 election by 60.68%.  Measure R bonds were approved by voters in 2024,  with 61.52% of the vote.

The advisor recommends shortening Measure R’s bond term from 25 to 17 years, reducing total interest costs from $41.38 million to $37.72 million — a savings of approximately $3.66 million. According to the tentative financing schedule, the Board is expected to formally approve the bond sales on October 23, with Los Angeles County acting on the tax levy November 12, pricing set for November 19, and closing by December 2.

Bond proceeds will fund upgrades across multiple campuses. Measure O projects include modernizations at Altadena, Don Benito, John Muir, Longfellow, Madison, Pasadena High, San Rafael, and Webster; restroom and utility improvements at Hamilton, Jackson STEM, Norma Coombs, Sierra Madre, Washington, and Willard; health and safety work such as stage rigging and security upgrades at Blair High; technology upgrades including student and staff device refreshes, cameras, clocks, and entry security; and the Franklin Elementary rebuild following fire damage. Measure R funds will expand scopes at Longfellow, John Muir, and Madison; initiate design work for additional projects; add parking at Altadena Elementary; and purchase new district service vehicles.

The Board will vote on two resolutions authorizing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions. Resolution 2831 would “authorize a Notice of Exemption for purposes of satisfying [CEQA]” for John Muir High School’s athletic facilities modernization, including its gymnasium and pool. Resolution 2840 would approve a CEQA Notice of Exemption for Longfellow Elementary’s modernization and interim student housing at Allendale Elementary during construction.

Trustees will also consider a Declaration of Intent to Negotiate a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA), which would “authorize the Superintendent or designee to enter into negotiations with appropriate union partners and return to the Board with a draft agreement for consideration.” If approved, the process would open talks with local labor organizations to secure a framework for union labor participation in upcoming school construction projects.

Thursday’s Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. closed session and 6 p.m. open session at Pasadena Unified School District’s Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave. The public portion will be broadcast live on Charter Channel 95 and streamed online.

The full agenda is online here.