Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Pasadena Unified to Vote Thursday on Eliminating Hundreds of Positions Amid Budget Shortfall

The combined total of more than 411 positions would represent the largest proposed single-year workforce reduction in the district’s modern history

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education is set to vote Thursday on two resolutions that could eliminate more than 250 classified staff positions and reduce certificated services by 161.35 full-time equivalents, the largest workforce reductions in recent district history. 

Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco has addressed the district’s financial situation and layoff prospects in several recent emails to the school community. 

“Reduction-in-force resolutions must be submitted to LACOE in March 2026. These actions are among the most difficult decisions any school system can face. They reflect careful, deliberate efforts, both at the central office and school sites, to preserve teaching and learning while maintaining financial stability,” Dr. Blanco wrote last week. 

United Teachers of Pasadena President Jonathan Gardner, in a Feb. 22 guest opinion published by Pasadena Now, said the planned reductions would affect school social workers, counselors, librarians, nurses, custodians, technology support staff, attendance clerks, community assistants and security personnel, among others. Gardner linked the cuts to a $24.5 million package of budget reductions the board approved in November 2025 as part of a wider $30.5 million fiscal stabilization plan. 

The board will consider the layoff resolutions at its regular meeting on Feb. 26. If approved, the reductions could take effect at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. 

Classified staff hit across the district 

Resolution 2859 targets 251 classified positions spanning dozens of job categories across the district. Among the hardest-hit classifications are 64 Project Aide I/Recreation positions and 17 custodian positions. The district also proposes eliminating 17 noon aide positions, 17 Project Aide I/Behavioral Assistant positions, 15 Project Aide II/Behavioral Assistant positions and 15 school community assistant/bilingual positions. 

Technology staff could also see significant reductions, with 10 computer repair technician positions slated for elimination along with two ITS help desk technician positions, a database administrator, a lead computer/telecomm repair position and a web design specialist. 

The classified cuts extend into student support services, targeting five clinical social worker positions, a licensed clinical social worker position, nine district security officer positions, five health clerk positions and two career financial advisor positions. Mental health and wellness positions on the chopping block include a behavioral health liaison specialist, a therapeutic behavioral services coordinator, a wellness coordinator and a substance abuse prevention specialist.

Administrative and clerical staff would lose positions including two administrative assistants, a senior administrative assistant, an administrative procurement/contracts position, a senior accountant, two junior accountants, an accounting and payroll supervisor, seven program assistant positions, and multiple clerk typist and senior clerk typist positions. 

The resolution also calls for eliminating seven gardener positions, a power grounds equipment operator, two TV producer/director positions, a legal technician and a youth foster care specialist. 

Deep cuts to teaching, support staff 

Resolution 2858, the certificated layoff resolution, proposes reducing or eliminating 161.35 full time equivalent across a sweeping range of teaching and administrative positions. 

Elementary education would bear a significant share of the reductions, with 17 multiple subject teacher positions targeted for elimination along with three special education teachers, two STEM teachers, two dual language immersion Spanish teachers, and one intervention teacher. Itinerant positions in art, music and physical education would also see major cuts — eight PE positions totaling 8.5 full time equivalent, seven music positions totaling 6 full time equivalent and four art positions totaling 2.7 full time equivalent. 

The district’s coaching and support infrastructure faces a dramatic reduction, with 31 TOSA I MTSS Coach positions — totaling 30.9 full time equivalent — proposed for elimination. Additional TOSA positions targeted include those in special education, special education inclusion, intervention, International Baccalaureate, alternative to suspension, data, grant/magnet, Alder Residency, educational technology, history/literacy, induction and PALS. 

Administrative leadership positions are also on the list. The resolution calls for cutting four assistant principal positions, two directors of special education, three special education coordinators, two curriculum and instruction coordinators, an MTSS student and family resource coordinator and an equity and access coordinator. Five principal positions are targeted: an elementary principal, a middle school principal, a principal on special assignment, the principal of alternative education overseeing Rose City High School and the Center for Independent Study, and the principal of Twilight Adult School and CWA Programs. 

Nine permit teacher positions and one bilingual permit teacher position are also slated for elimination, along with four counselor positions totaling 3.4 full time equivalent, three nurse positions totaling 2.3 full time equivalent, three head librarian positions totaling 2.5 full time equivalent, a site supervisor and an adult school CTE teacher. 

Music and arts programs across the secondary level face numerous reductions, including positions in choir, orchestra, band, music production, AP music theory and art. 

Seniority and special program protections 

The certificated resolution includes provisions allowing the district to deviate from seniority-based layoffs to protect staffing in certain specialized programs. Teachers currently assigned to International Baccalaureate programs with at least 18 hours of IB training may be “skipped” in the layoff order, as may those teaching at the International Academy at Blair Middle and High School. 

Similar protections extend to teachers at Altadena Arts Magnet, John Muir High School Early College Magnet and Octavia E. Butler Magnet who have completed at least 24 hours of program-specific training. Dual language immersion teachers with BCLAD credentials in Mandarin, French or Spanish are also eligible for skipping protections, as are teachers in the Immersive Storytelling Academy and qualified transitional kindergarten teachers. 

For certificated employees with the same seniority date, the district will apply a tiebreaker system based on years of full-time teaching experience, number of credentials and authorizations, post-baccalaureate units, and advanced degrees. If those criteria fail to break a tie, the district will use a random lottery. 

Required notices and next steps 

Under California Education Code, the district must serve layoff notices to affected classified employees before March 15. Certificated employees facing potential layoff must also receive preliminary notices from the superintendent or designee. 

The classified resolution notes that employees laid off under that action would be eligible for reemployment pursuant to Education Code section 45298. The certificated resolution states that any additional attrition — through resignations, retirements or other departures — will be taken into account to determine whether the number of employees affected by the reductions may be mitigated.