Monday, June 8, 2026

Pasadena Teachers Union Issues Statement Opposing School Board Recalls

On Sunday, June 7, the United Teachers of Pasadena released an unsolicited statement regarding current recall efforts underway against at least two trustees of the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education.

The statement comes after a tumultuous period during which controversial emails between board members were released publicly and a high-stakes board meeting resulted in the board rejection of a key planning document for proposed school consolidations.

In its statement, the teachers union says it opposes current recall efforts.

There are two active recall campaigns targeting PUSD board members. Both — one aimed at board president Tina Fredericks and the other at district 4 trustee Scott Harden — are in the early organizational phases. Notices of intent to recall were physically served to Fredericks and Harden during the May 28 school board meeting. Neither petition has yet been certified by the Los Angeles County Registrar for ballot placement.

“As educators,” the union statement said, “we value stability because students learn best when districts and schools are focused on teaching and learning, not political turmoil.”

Here is the full text of the United Teachers of Pasadena statement:

United Teachers of Pasadena Statement Opposing the Current Recall Effort With Regard to Trustees of the Pasadena Unified Board of Education.

UTP believes that accountability and transparency can and should occur through established democratic and legal processes; however, a recall at this time is not the way.

Given that Pasadena Unified has been continuously choosing to underfund the classroom experience, pursuing an off-year recall election diverts even more funding away from our students, staff, and school communities.

We recognize that some members of the community have concerns about district decisions and governance.  Our opposition to this recall should not be interpreted as an endorsement of every decision made by the current Board.

As educators, we value stability because students learn best when districts and schools are focused on teaching and learning, not political turmoil.  Likewise, our district is best positioned to address its challenges when attention remains on strengthening student learning experiences, fully funding classrooms, supporting staff, improving student outcomes, and building trust and solidarity for the long term within the PUSD community.

UTP’s focus remains where it belongs: on students, educators, and Safe, Stable, Fully-Staffed, and Integrated Schools in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre.