Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Pasadena Unified Plans Nearly $2 Million for Athletics After All

Despite a fiscal crisis that has forced Pasadena Unified to cut spending districtwide and sparked months of controversy over athletics reductions, the district plans to spend nearly $2 million on high school sports during the 2026-27 school year.

Documents scheduled for review by the Board of Education on Thursday show Pasadena Unified has allocated $1,933,749.49 for athletics, funding programs across Blair, Marshall, Muir and Pasadena high schools even as the district works to close a structural deficit exceeding $30 million.

The presentation offers the clearest picture yet of how athletics emerged from one of the district’s most contentious budget debates. It details funding allocations for each campus, districtwide support costs and the sports that will be offered next year after athletics became a focal point of public testimony during budget deliberations.

According to the presentation, Muir would receive the largest athletics allocation at $535,370.98, followed by Pasadena High at $500,903.22, Marshall at $361,790.92 and Blair at $234,184.37.

An additional $301,500 would fund districtwide athletics expenses, including athletic trainers, bleachers and portable restrooms.

The district groups athletics spending into transportation; personnel, including athletic coach stipends, athletic director stipends or release time and athletic trainers; supplies and equipment; player uniforms; and miscellaneous costs such as bleachers, Port-a-Potties, and sports video analysis and data.

Across the district, boys teams compete in football, cross country and water polo in the fall; basketball, soccer and wrestling in the winter; and swim, volleyball, baseball, track and field, golf and tennis in the spring.

Girls teams compete in tennis, cross country, volleyball and golf in the fall; basketball, soccer, wrestling and water polo in the winter; and swim, softball and track and field in the spring. Cheer and dance are offered year-round.

By campus, Blair is scheduled to field cross country, girls tennis, girls volleyball and cheer in the fall; basketball, soccer and cheer in the winter; and swim, boys volleyball, girls softball and cheer in the spring.

Marshall is scheduled to field cross country, girls volleyball, girls golf, girls tennis, cheer and dance in the fall; basketball, soccer, wrestling, cheer and dance in the winter; and boys baseball, boys golf, boys tennis, boys volleyball, girls softball, track and field, cheer and dance in the spring.

Muir is scheduled to field football, cross country, water polo, girls golf, cheer, dance and girls tennis in the fall; basketball, soccer, girls water polo, cheer and dance in the winter; and boys baseball, boys golf, track and field, swim, girls softball, cheer and dance in the spring.

Pasadena High is scheduled to field football, cross country, water polo, girls golf, cheer and dance in the fall; basketball, soccer, girls water polo, cheer and dance in the winter; and boys baseball, boys golf, boys tennis, track and field, swim, girls softball, cheer and dance in the spring.

The presentation also compares Pasadena Unified with other districts in the region, stating that all provide athletic coach stipends and athletic director stipends or release time, most provide transportation, and about half provide supplies, equipment and player uniforms.

Athletics became a flashpoint last fall when the Board of Education approved $24.5 million in budget reductions for 2026-27. According to prior reporting, athletics was among the affected areas, although trustees ultimately reduced a proposed athletics cut from 50% to 25% after public debate.

District officials have said Pasadena Unified must reduce spending to address a structural deficit of more than $30 million and satisfy Los Angeles County education officials who warned the district must lower expenditures to retain local control.

Against that backdrop, Thursday’s athletics presentation provides a public accounting of how the district intends to maintain sports programs while navigating one of the most difficult financial periods in recent years.

The athletics item is informational only and requires no board action. Trustees are scheduled to convene open session at 7 p.m. in the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room, 351 S. Hudson Ave. Public comment is limited to three minutes per speaker. The meeting will also air on Charter Cable Channel 95 and stream at live.boardmeetings.info.