Tuesday, April 21, 2026

PUSD’s State of Schools Address Set for Wednesday in Altadena

Tina Wu Fredericks

Board President Tina Fredericks will deliver her first annual address as the district faces layoffs, a multimillion-dollar deficit, and a review of 14 campuses

The Pasadena Unified School District will hold conduct the annual State of Schools 2026 address Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary School Auditorium at 593 W. Woodbury Road in Altadena.

Board President Tina Fredericks will deliver the address — her first State of Schools since the Board elected her president on Dec. 8.

The address comes during a period of Board actions on District finances and structure. In November, the Board voted to cut $24.5 million from the 2026-27 budget. On Feb. 26, trustees approved layoff resolutions that would eliminate more than 160 certificated positions, along with classified positions. The District has said it faces a structural budget deficit of $30 million to $35 million for the coming fiscal year.

On Jan. 22, the Board also approved a planning process that will determine whether the Pasadena Unified School District closes or consolidates some campuses. That committee is scheduled to submit final recommendations to the Board on May 11.

Fredericks, who represents District 6 on the Board and was re-elected in November 2024, was elected president in a unanimous vote of the Board at its Dec. 8 annual reorganization meeting. She is the first Asian American woman to hold the position, according to District records.

“I am very honored for this opportunity,” Fredericks said at the reorganization meeting. “All I can say is that we have work to do and I believe in this district. I believe in our leadership, I believe in our board, and whatever happens, we’re going to do this together.”

The Mary W. Jackson STEAM campus, located in unincorporated Altadena, is not among the 14 schools currently under review. The Pasadena Unified School District serves Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre and operates 23 schools.

The State of Schools is an annual address delivered by the Board President. Last year’s address was delivered April 15 by then-President Jennifer Hall Lee at Pasadena High School’s library.

Pasadena Unified School District enrollment has fallen to fewer than 14,000 students, a decline of approximately 23% over the past decade, according to District reporting. During the 2024-25 school year, enrollment fell by approximately 500 students as families relocated following the Jan. 7 Eaton Fire, which damaged or destroyed five public or charter school campuses in the District’s service area.

The District’s next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 23. A separate in-person town hall on school consolidation is scheduled for April 28 at Pasadena High School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The State of Schools address is free and open to the community.