Pasadena Unified Plans $12 Million in Cuts as Enrollment Decline, Budget Pressures Mount

The Pasadena Unified School District is preparing to implement $12 million in budget reductions for the 2025-26 school year, including the possible elimination of more than 150 full-time equivalent staff positions, as it faces continued enrollment decline and the exhausting of pandemic relief funding.

The cuts, detailed in a February 27 Board of Education presentation to be heard and reviewed Thursday, would come as the District projects operating deficits for the foreseeable future.

The reduction plan combines $7 million in central office cuts with $5 million in classroom staffing adjustments. These changes could eliminate 117.6 full-time certificated positions and 34 classified positions.

“Due to PUSD’s fiscal outlook, LACOE has required the submission of Fiscal Stabilization Plans as part of our recent budget adoption and interim reports,” according to the District’s presentation.

The District’s enrollment has fallen steadily over the past decade, dropping from 17,267 students in 2014-15 to 13,757 in 2024-25. This decline, coupled with the complete depletion of COVID-19 relief funds and lower-than-anticipated state funding, has created significant budget pressures.

Adding to the fiscal strain, the District’s Unduplicated Pupil Percentage has dropped almost 4 percentage points in 2024-25, reducing state Local Control Funding Formula revenue.

The classroom staffing changes will adjust teacher-student ratios to align with state law and union contracts. These include maintaining ratios of 24:1 for TK-3 grades, 32.75:1 for grades 4-5, 29.5:1 for middle school, and 29.75:1 for high school.

A Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee, comprising staff, students, labor representatives and community members, reportedly developed the central office reduction recommendations between September and November 2024. The cuts affect multiple departments with varying funding reductions: Academics Elementary & Secondary Services (90% funding level), Academics Vertical Services (80%), Academic Systems (80%), Business Services (80%), Cares Program (60%), Communications/KLRN (80%), Facilities/Maintenance (100%), Human Resources (80%), Innovative Technology Services (90%), and Wellness Services (95%).

District officials consulted with the Financial Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and the State Board of Education about the reductions.

“Demonstrating fiscal responsibility will give us a better chance of securing additional fire-related relief from the State,” the presentation notes.

The District said it is not proposing any reductions based on potential enrollment losses due to the Eaton Fire.

“Proposed reductions are not sufficient to close the shortfall (based on 1st interim projections), but are what we believe the school system can prudently implement at this time,” according to the presentation.

The proposal must receive Board approval in February to meet statutory deadlines for layoff notifications under California Education Code requirements. The changes are governed by state education codes as well as collective bargaining agreements.