Pasadena Unified School District (Photo – Staff)
The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) is launching a new Superintendent’s Facilities Advisory Council (SFAC) to bring coordinated, transparent, and strategic oversight to the district’s long-range facilities planning and bond programs.
By News Desk
Introduced at the Board of Education’s November 6 retreat, the council will serve as the Superintendent’s leadership body responsible for aligning voter-approved Measure O and Measure R bond programs with capital outlay planning, insurance recovery, asset management, and broader long-term facilities strategies. Its work is intended to ensure that all decisions are data-driven, fiscally responsible, and aligned with PUSD’s Facilities Master Plan, Educational Master Plan, and sustainability goals.
Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D., emphasized the urgency of the council’s creation in the wake of the Eaton Fire. “The Eaton Fire destroyed or significantly damaged five of our district sites, and it is vital that we align our bond and facilities planning to this new reality,” she said. “This council ensures that every decision we make moving forward is transparent, data-driven, fiscally responsible, and aligned with our mission and community values.”
The SFAC will begin meeting in January 2026 and will be chaired by Superintendent Blanco, with support from Michael Dunning, PUSD Director of Facilities, Maintenance & Operations. Membership will include district administrators, staff, labor partners, and three Board of Education members. The district is working with its labor partners and administrative teams to finalize representatives.
The council will also include four parents or guardians plus an alternate, and four community members plus an alternate, preferably individuals with experience or interest in facilities, architecture, construction, or energy efficiency. Members must commit to twice-monthly meetings. Applications are available at pusd.us/sfac and are due by 4:00pm on December 19, 2025. Completed forms may be mailed to April Armendariz, Senior Administrative Assistant, Pasadena Unified School District, 740 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena, or emailed to armendariz.april@pusd.us.
The council will oversee several major areas, including:
- Bond program delivery for Measures O and R
- Capital outlay and asset and property management
- Insurance recovery and fire restoration
- Facilities master planning and design standards
- Funding strategy and program integration
- Compliance and reporting
District officials noted that the council’s work will focus strictly on facilities projects and is not intended to function as a school consolidation committee. Its mandate centers on integrating bond and insurance funding to ensure effective and efficient use of resources.
“This is a crucial step as we shift focus from immediate fiscal stabilization to rebuilding and long-term investment in our schools,” Dr. Blanco added. “By bringing together our bonds, asset management, and facilities planning, we can maximize both impact and accountability for our students and community.”
In keeping with PUSD’s commitment to transparency, meeting summaries and related materials will be publicly archived.
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