Pasadena Unified to Place Bond on November Ballot

Pasadena Unified School District (Photo – Brigham Yen)

Resolution 2575 was passed with a vote of 5-2 on Thursday, June 26, 2020, placing Ed Tech and Facilities Bonds on the November Ballot.

By Albert Martin

Five “yes” votes were needed to approve placing a bond on the ballot. Board Members, Kim Kenne and Elizabeth Pomeroy voted no however both would have approved a smaller bond. Worth noting, Resolution 2575 was not the largest bond option. Resolution 2575, if passed, would mean a $45 Total Tax Rate per $100,000.00 of assessed property. If it passes Pasadena Unified will receive $60 million Ed Tech bonds and $456,280,000 Facilities Bonds.

According to Dr. Leslie Barnes, Chief Business officer the Ed Tech Bonds can be used to purchase the chrome books needed for distance learning that we were previously leasing. They can also be used to purchase more hot spots for students in need. As a consequence of COVID-19, the District is required to upgrade its technology to both improve distance learning and to equitably provide students with up-to-date computers, devices and instructional technology. Such technology upgrades can be funded with bonds whose maturities are five years or less so that the bond term matches the shorter useful life of the technology equipment purchased.

A Facilities Needs Assessment is in process and will be completed in August. The Facilities Master Plan was last updated in 2017. PUSD will use the Facilities Needs Assessment Data to have a new plan. Outreach to principals has already begun. An analysis of work-order data has been started. The expected completion of this plan will be in September. A detailed project list has been created from the 2017 Facilities Master Plan. However, the reality is that many projects were not completed from Measure TT and there are many needs in PUSD. Irrigation, Landscape, Accessibility, Information Technology Systems, Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing, HVAC- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Structural, Fire Alarm Systems, and Maintenance & Warehouse to name just a few.