Friday, January 23, 2026

Pasadena Unified Opens Applications for School Consolidation Advisory Committee

Feb. 9 deadline set as district reviews enrollment and potential campus changes

The Pasadena Unified School District is looking for community members to serve on the Superintendent’s School Consolidation Advisory Committee, a key part of the district’s review of enrollment trends and potential campus consolidations.

The committee was authorized under Board Resolution 2852: Establishing Optimal School Sizes, which the Board approved in December as part of a broader “transformation process” to evaluate school closures or consolidations beginning in the 2027–28 school year.

Those interested must submit an application by Monday, Feb. 9, at 5 p.m. through the district’s online form at https://forms.gle/QiDvht1gdZEfCiCn7.

The resolution sets minimum enrollment thresholds of 300 students for elementary schools, 400 for middle schools, and 900 for high schools. Campuses falling below those levels will be studied, with recommendations due to the Board in October.

District officials said the advisory group will assist with enrollment review and provide input as the planning process moves forward.

“The Board stressed that this action initiated a planning and review process for the future of the district,” the district said in a statement.

The District added that it “will continue to provide timely updates and clear opportunities for community engagement as this enrollment review process moves forward” and remains committed to “an open, transparent, and equity-centered approach that prioritizes students, honors community voice, and ensures any future recommendations are made thoughtfully and with care.”

Confirmation of membership will be sent by Thursday, Feb. 12, according to the district announcement. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The consolidation review comes as Pasadena Unified faces fiscal pressure from the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which accepted the District’s self-certification as fiscally sound in January but warned that projected deficit spending could reduce reserves to 3.8 percent by 2027–28, barely above the state-required 3 percent minimum. County officials have directed the District to show by mid-March that its $24.5 million in November budget cuts are being implemented.

Enrollment declines are also driving the review. District projections show enrollment has fallen from 17,267 students in 2014–15 to about 13,700 this year—a drop of more than 20 percent over a decade. The Eaton Fire, which began Jan. 7 and destroyed more than 9,400 structures in Altadena, displaced 862 Pasadena Unified families and accelerated the decline, according to District officials.

Board President Tina Wu Fredericks said the Board’s action ensures the process will be “thorough, transparent, and informed by our community.”

The District must also comply with AB 1912, a state law requiring an equity impact analysis before financially distressed districts close schools. The analysis must examine nine factors, including facility conditions, special programs, transportation needs, student demographics, and environmental impacts.

The advisory committee will hold its first meeting February 23 and meet seven times through May 11, followed by a public hearing on May 28 and a community input session on June 11. The Board is scheduled to make its final decision on June 25. Any approved closures would take effect at the end of the 2026–27 school year, with new school boundaries set by September 2026.