Teachers Rally at Pasadena City Hall, Sat., Feb. 7 (Photo – Staff)
Educators, parents, and community members gathered Saturday morning, Feb. 7, at Pasadena City Hall to protest $24.5 million in proposed budget cuts by the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). Layoff notices are expected within five weeks, and a school consolidation study is already underway.
By Rena Kurlander
The rally was organized by United Teachers of Pasadena (UTP) as the district approaches two critical deadlines: March 15, when preliminary layoff notices are scheduled to be issued, and March 16, when PUSD must submit an updated fiscal plan to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Attendees urged the PUSD Board of Education to reexamine the proposed reductions, arguing they would significantly harm students and staff.
U.S. Representative Judy Chu and CA Assemblymember Mike Fong attended the rally and spoke in support of educators, emphasizing the importance of protecting classroom resources and student services amid ongoing financial challenges.
Several teachers shared personal experiences, describing what they said is a long-standing pattern of recurring budget cuts. Elizabeth “Nicky” Aguilar, a special education teacher at John Muir High School and a former PUSD student, said she has witnessed funding shortfalls throughout her life in the district.
“Every year since I was a child, my mom and I have witnessed the same threads of cuts to school sites,” Aguilar said. “As a special education teacher, we’re constantly scrambling for more staff support and time to ensure IEP compliance. These shortages don’t just hurt teachers , they hurt students and expose the district to costly lawsuits.”
Karen Gonzalez, a teacher at Washington Elementary, said she attended the rally to support teachers, librarians, and counselors facing potential job losses. “A lot of people are losing their jobs, and I know there are funds that could be used to keep these positions,” she said.
UTP President Jonathan Gardner warned that the proposed cuts threaten core commitments made to students and families. “Every student has the right to a free public education, free from harassment,” Gardner said. “These cuts jeopardize that promise and the student experience. We’re asking the board to change their votes and restore these positions.”
Christina Reyes, a special needs teacher at Willard Elementary, questioned the district’s financial management. “Every year we’re rallying again,” she said. “Our students need resources, especially in special education. Smaller class sizes would allow individualized instruction. We need transparency about where the money is going and accountability for the mistakes that were made.”
Andrew Medina, a music teacher at San Rafael and Jackson elementary schools, said the rally aimed to unite parents and supporters to push back against reductions that directly affect classrooms. “We’re urging the district to keep cuts away from the classroom, value the student experience, and put teachers and students first,” he said.
Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco and Trustees Scott Harden and Jennifer Hall Lee were among those in attendance. PUSD Board President Tina Fredericks—who voted in favor of the cuts—also attended and spoke at the rally!
As PUSD moves closer to its budget and layoff deadlines, educators say they plan to continue organizing and pressing district leaders to reconsider the proposed cuts.
In a statement to our newsroom, Pasadena Unified School District said it respects the right of employees and community members to advocate, while emphasizing that the district remains on a stable financial path. District officials cited a Board-approved Fiscal Stabilization Plan adopted in December 2025 and accepted by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, stating that difficult budget decisions were made to preserve classroom learning. PUSD added that schools remain open and fully staffed, with instructional programs, student supports, and extracurricular offerings continuing despite ongoing long-term fiscal pressures.
Teachers Rally (Photo – Staff)
Educators, parents, and community members gathered Saturday morning, Feb. 7, at Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Staff)
At Pasadena City Hall, Feb. 7, 2026 (Photo – Staff)
A parent holding a sign (Photo – Staff)
Rep. Judy Chu (Photo – Staff)
Asmb. Mike Fong (Photo – Staff)
UTP President Jonathan Gardner (Photo – Staff)
PUSD Board President Tina Fredericks, who voted for the cuts, speaks at the rally ({Photo – Staff)
The hypocrisy is off the charts. With a huge one-time reserve because of Covid-era recovery funding that wasn’t spent, the teachers demanded and got two straight years of 10% raises in 22-23 and 23-24. Together with most teachers’ nearly 8% raise in 21-22, that’s a 28% raise over three years. Of course after a few years of 28% higher costs for the largest group of employees, this wiped out the large reserves and set the district on the path to a fiscal crisis. So the raises are the precipitating factor (not consultant costs as the union likes to blame) in why the district now needs to make yet another year of cuts, because the raises were not one-time cost increases; they added to the ongoing costs of the district. But the union is out protesting the cuts. SMH.