Board President Kimberly Kenne (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
Pasadena Unified Board of Education President Kimberly Kenne gave this address yesterday at Octavia E. Butler Magnet Middle School, as required annually by the Pasadena city charter.
By News Desk
Welcome and Acknowledgements
Pasadena Unified Board of Education President Kimberly Kenne acknowledged the setting, a school named after a well-known PUSD graduate that is celebrating its 100th year as a PUSD school. After welcoming distinguished guests, she offered congratulations to Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco who was just named to that position by the board after serving a year as the interim superintendent, and to her colleagues on the board for their work on the search process.
Ms. Kenne then acknowledged parent and advisory committees, the parents who volunteer their time and energy in the schools, PUSD’s community partners, PUSD’s employee unions, and the PUSD team that put this event together.
Student Awards
Board President Kenne began her address by acknowledging the awards, scholarships and achievements won by students this year, including the recent “Student Think Tank” initiative that has resulted in a student board member being present throughout board meetings for the first time.
Financial picture
Kenne then gave a brief snapshot of PUSD’s financial status, saying that the district’s most recent interim budget forecast that the district can meet its fiscal obligations for this year and the next two years after the board approved the closing of about 175 positions for the 24-25 school year. She remarked that more work will be done to reduce PUSD’s deficit spending in two ways: (1) increase revenues via leveraging vacant properties and placing a parcel tax on the November 2024 ballot, and (2) evaluate programs for possible reductions in those programs.
Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
November facilities bond
Kenne expressed the gratitude of the district for the community passing Measure O in 2020, but said that because of the very large increases in construction costs, PUSD is putting another bond on this coming November’s ballot. She detailed the completed roof replacements, shade structures and purchasing of new student and staff computers, and campus safety improvements in progress using Measure O funds, as well as some summer projects, and projects launched at three schools chosen by the board for major renovations. The latter choices have been somewhat controversial given that professional facilities assessments determined they were not in need of repair, while other schools were in great need of repair.
Student Test Scores and Other Metrics
Kenne then detailed the current level of PUSD test scores in English (ELA) and Math. She remarked that PUSD is performing better than the statewide ELA results, while in Math, PUSD’s scores are lower and similar to trends seen statewide.
She mentioned that the graduation rate for 22-23 was about 85% which has been stable for five years, and PUSD has increased its percentage of students graduating who have met certain “college and/or career ready” criteria.
Conclusion
Board President Kenne concluded by saying that while PUSD has “great programs, dedicated teachers and many students who are finding success. . . too many of our students are not finding that same success.” She said this is the work PUSD will be focused on, and mentioned the implementation of the district’s strategic plan in the years ahead.
Students presented songs songs from their upcoming musical “The Little Mermaid” (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
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