PUSD Board to Consider Investigation Into Board Member’s Conduct

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education will decide whether to launch a formal third-party investigation into alleged unprofessional conduct by one of its own members at its upcoming meeting on Thursday. The agenda did not identify the Trustee by name.

According to the meeting agenda, the Board will consider directing “the initiation of a formal third-party investigation into alleged unprofessional conduct by a member of the Board of Education that is reported to have occurred between May 2-4, 2025.”

The investigation would be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and District policies, though specific details about the allegations are not provided in the agenda materials.

In other actions on the agenda, the Board is scheduled to consider approval of Resolution 2819, which requests allowance of attendance due to emergency conditions related to the Los Angeles County Wildfires. Multiple wildfire-related items appear on the agenda, including the ratification of contracts awarded for emergency work, continuation of emergency action pursuant to Resolution 2797, and determination of continuing local emergency pursuant to Resolution 2798.

Key presentations scheduled include an update on the District’s English Learner Master Plan and a May Revise Update regarding the Governor’s revised state budget and its implications for District finances. The student perspective will also be represented through a Student Board Member Report.

The Board will also consider several initiatives related to student mental health, including approval of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative agreements and a new position for School Crisis Counselors. Labor relations will also be discussed, with the closed session including negotiations with employee organizations UTP, CSEA, Teamsters, PACTE, and unrepresented employees.

Technology upgrades are on the agenda with the approval to award a contract to STS Education for the 2025 Student Chromebook Refresh Project. Campus improvements include consideration of a bid to Environmental Construction for field improvement projects at Jackson, Hamilton, and Norma Coombs Elementary Schools.

The District is pursuing several grant opportunities, including submission of an application to the California Department of Education Learning Communities for School Success Program and acceptance of the Farm to School Incubator TK-12 Procurement and Education Grant.

Multiple charter school agreements will be considered, including facilities use agreements with Alma Fuerte, Odyssey Charter School, Odyssey Charter School South, Aveson School, and Aveson Global Leadership Academy for the 2025-2026 school year.

Community involvement is emphasized with the approval of new Citizen’s Oversight Committee members and additional Community Advisory Committee member selection. The Board will also conduct a public hearing regarding the 2025-2026 Special Education Plan Budget and Service Plan for the Pasadena Unified School District Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

The Board will review a substantial consent agenda with numerous policy updates, including those related to student wellness, mental health, suicide prevention, mobile communications devices, and student use of technology.

The regular meeting will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room #236 at 351 S. Hudson Avenue in Pasadena. The closed session begins at 4:45 p.m. with the regular public meeting starting at 7:15 p.m.

Community members can attend in person or watch the meeting live on Charter Cable Channel 95 or online at http://live.boardmeetings.info.