UPDATE: Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco revealed urgent plans to address a staggering $30 million to $35 million budget deficit during a virtual town hall held on November 5, 2023. As the district grapples with declining enrollment and rising costs, immediate action is necessary to stabilize finances ahead of a crucial Board of Education meeting.
During the town hall, attended by parents, teachers, and stakeholders, Blanco emphasized the potential for transformation amid crisis. “With every crisis comes an opportunity,” she stated, urging the community to view the budget cuts not as setbacks, but as a chance to “reinvent” the district.
The PUSD is currently implementing eight workstreams aimed at identifying deep budget cuts necessary to counteract the ongoing financial struggles. Key areas of focus include central office reductions, grants maximization, special education, and staffing adjustments. These cuts may include the elimination of 25% of the athletics budget and a reduction in community assistants at schools with low enrollment.
The urgency of the situation is compounded by a mandate from the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), requiring PUSD to submit a revised fiscal stabilization plan by December 6, 2023. LACOE officials previously warned that failure to address the deficit could lead to more severe cuts to essential services.
Blanco reported that between $5 million and $10 million must be identified in the upcoming weeks to avoid deeper cuts to central office personnel and school-based services. Current proposed reductions include approximately $4.9 million in cuts to certificated and classified personnel across multiple departments, should the necessary savings not be found.
The Board of Education is set to convene a study session on the proposed reductions on November 13, 2023, with a final vote scheduled for November 20, 2023. Blanco and the Board will consider recommendations from various workstreams, including the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee.
Board President Jennifer Hall Lee underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “These are not abstract numbers. They are real and they are urgent.”
The town hall concluded with a Q&A session addressing concerns about potential layoffs, school consolidations, and athletic programs. The PUSD plans to hold an in-person town hall on November 10, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Pasadena High School gymnasium, inviting community members to engage directly with district leaders.
For ongoing updates and more information, visit pusd.us/budget. The urgency to act is palpable as the PUSD faces one of its most challenging fiscal periods in recent history.
