Trustee Kim Kenne speaks with TSS consultant Joseph Pandolfo during one of the many Pasadena Unified Consolidation Committee meetings (File Photo – Staff)
A group of concerned Pasadena Unified School District parents and taxpayers is demanding that the district immediately invalidate its contract with Total School Solutions (TSS). Allegations are the agreement resulted from fraud, collusion, unlawful secret communications, and wasteful spending of public funds.
By Janine Tedros
In a letter sent to Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco and members of the PUSD Board of Education, the parents claim TSS secretly coordinated with several board members regarding potential school consolidation plans before the district formally approved the consulting arrangement.
According to the letter, TSS representatives met privately with board members Tina Fredericks, Scott Harden, and Yarma Velazquez in November and December 2025 to discuss possible school closures. The parents allege those discussions were intentionally concealed from Superintendent Blanco and other board members.
The letter further claims TSS officials advised trustees on how to avoid public disclosure of communications. In one cited November 2025 email, TSS Executive Vice President Dr. Pandolfo allegedly warned Fredericks that their emails were “discoverable.” He suggested involving district counsel Sarine Abrahamian regarding communications about school closures.
Parents cited a Dec. 1, 2025 email allegedly sent by TSS CEO Tahir Ahad to Fredericks, Harden, and Velazquez stating that “it would be best to not mention our discussion to the superintendent” and to allow Blanco to appear to “own the process.” The letter adds that Fredericks responded, “I agree. And very interesting.”
The parents argue these communications demonstrate that TSS was not an “independent, reliable, and unbiased” consultant when the board later approved Resolution 2852 on Dec. 11, 2025, authorizing the superintendent to seek outside expertise regarding district planning.
The letter alleges that trustees Tina Fredericks, Scott Harden, Yarma Velazquez, and Kim Kenne voted in favor of the resolution despite allegedly knowing TSS had already participated in discussions supporting school closures.
Parents contend the district’s $233,000 payment to TSS constitutes a waste of public funds. Parents argue the money should have been directed toward classroom resources or additional teachers rather than “a biased, for-profit company which exists for the purpose of closing public schools.”
The letter also alleges the contract violated California Government Code Section 1090, which prohibits public officials from participating in contracts in which they hold a financial interest. Parents claim district legal counsel Sarine Abrahamian participated in the agreement despite her firm allegedly having a financial interest in future asset management arrangements tied to district property.
The parents argue the contract is invalid because it was allegedly formed through unlawful serial communications in violation of California’s Brown Act, citing separate correspondence sent to the district on May 15, 2026.
The group warned the district to take immediate action to void the contract and recover funds already paid to TSS. If not, taxpayers may pursue legal action under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 526a to halt future payments and seek repayment of district funds.
The letter also references potential political consequences for the board members involved. Parents wrote that Fredericks and Harden “have engaged in fraud, collusion, and waste and the recall process has begun.” Velazquez and Kenne, both of whom are up for reelection this fall, “will have to answer for their fraudulent and wasteful use of public funds.”
This story is developing. Stay with our daily online edition for ongoing reporting.
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