Overflow area filled as attendance surged at last night’s PUSD meeting (Photo – Denise Robb)
The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education voted Thursday night, May 28, to reject receipt of a key equity impact report tied to PUSD’s controversial school consolidation proposal, effectively bringing the school closure process to a halt after months of public debate and growing community backlash.
By Janine Tedros
The decision came during a lengthy, and at times contentious, PUSD Board of Education meeting that drew a packed chamber, more than 75 public speakers, and demonstrations outside PUSD headquarters. Most speakers voiced opposition to the proposed school mergers.
The rejected report, prepared as part of PUSD’s ongoing consolidation review, concluded that no student demographic groups would be disproportionately harmed under any of the proposed school closure scenarios. The analysis also echoed arguments previously made by PUSD consultants that merging campuses could broaden academic and extracurricular offerings for students.
Many parents, students, and community members questioned the credibility of both the report and the broader consolidation process, citing concerns about transparency and public trust.
Following the vote, the Board shifted discussion toward possible next steps and openly acknowledged flaws in the process.
The meeting intensified political tensions surrounding the issue. During public comment, Board President Tina Fredericks and Board member Scott Harden were each served notices of intent to recall. The notices were delivered by speakers at the conclusion of their remarks during what marked the Board’s first public hearing since an advisory committee recommended against moving forward with school mergers.
The controversy escalated after Colorado Boulevard newspaper published an investigative report alleging coordination among trustees Tina Fredericks, Kim Kenne, Scott Harden, and Yarma Velázquez regarding consolidation plans before the formal process began. The article also raised questions about potential Brown Act violations connected to communications with a district consultant hired to explore merger options.
During Thursday’s meeting, the four members of the Board sought to deflect allegations of collusion.
Fredericks said a consolidation proposal she drafted privately was created independently and stemmed from concerns about PUSD’s significant structural budget deficit. Fredericks, however, did not deny sharing her private consolidation proposal with others. She added that the PUSD Board was not involved in selecting Total School Solutions, the consultant overseeing the process. She stated that it was just “coincidental” that PUSD contracted with TSS after three Board members already were privately discussing closure strategies with TSS.
Harden similarly denied any behind-the-scenes effort to secure the hiring of TSS, stating that such decisions fall under the superintendent’s authority.
None of the four Board members specifically addressed the core Brown Act violation allegations that they engaged in serial communications to privately deliberate on approving Board Resolution 2852, which initiated the most recent attempt to close schools.
Kenne and Harden also addressed previously disclosed text messages that they described as “sarcastic.”
In response to calls for a new visioning process, Board member Jennifer Hall Lee noted that the community cannot start a visioning process without first rebuilding trust.
Board member Patrice Marshall McKenzie stated that the Board’s primary obligation is to serve students and restore public trust. She stated that the community still is grieving from the Eaton Fire, and the Board needs to proceed slow and thoroughly.
Board member Michelle Richardon Bailey stated that the Board cannot move forward unless the Board itself can first resolve differences with each other and put children first. The Board should focus its efforts on maximizing revenue from the eleven properties from previous school closures.
Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco noted that PUSD is fiscally stable and continues its work on long-term planning and program review. She reiterated PUSD’s focus on generating revenue from its eleven properties from previous school closures.
Prior to Thursday’s vote, PUSD had scheduled a second public hearing on school consolidation proposals for June 11, with a final Board decision expected on June 25. The rejection of the equity impact report now leaves the future of any consolidation process uncertain.
This story is developing. Stay with our daily online edition for ongoing reporting.
Leave a Reply