Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Pasadena Unified Spotlights Student Honors, Heritage Month Events, and Looming Fiscal Challenges

Five Pasadena High School seniors were named 2025 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. [Pasadena Unified photos]

Email to families highlights academic achievements and warns of fiscal realities while previewing cultural celebrations

In an email to families Monday evening, Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco highlighted academic achievements and upcoming cultural events while warning of difficult financial decisions ahead.

Blanco opened her message by acknowledging recent national events that have weighed on students and communities. She said the District remains committed to creating safe, supportive spaces where students can learn restorative practices and engage in respectful dialogue.

Student and School Highlights

Five Pasadena High School seniors — Maria Karapetyan, Jacob Monson, Zachary Nash, Zalea Nunes, and Megan Sinclair — were named 2025 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, putting them in the running for scholarships to be awarded next spring.

Pasadena schools will celebrate Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, with classroom activities and a culminating Latino Heritage Festival set for Oct. 11. In addition, high school students will take part in California High School Voter Education Weeks through Sept. 26, learning how to preregister to vote and deepening civic engagement.

The District noted that every elementary school now offers at least one Transitional Kindergarten classroom, serving four-year-olds with play-based, developmentally appropriate instruction.

Other highlights included a Celebration of the Young Child at Brookside Park on Sept. 20, featuring costume parades, a “Touch-A-Truck” area, food, community resources, and free admission to Kidspace. Special education teachers are also undergoing professional development in the S.P.I.R.E. literacy program to strengthen phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

Mental Health and Family Engagement

Blanco brought into focus that September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, pointing families to resources including the District’s THRIVE line, its Mental Health Services office, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and text support at 741741, along with online tools at pusd.us/Wellness.

The superintendent encouraged families to attend a Parent Information Session on Sept. 24, led by Jennifer Miyake-Trapp, to learn about elementary schools, magnet programs, and how to interpret test scores and school ratings.

She also urged parents and caregivers to become more involved by joining Pasadena Unified School District leadership groups such as School Site Councils, District Advisory Committees, and other parent forums.

Fiscal Outlook

While the District is celebrating these accomplishments, Blanco cautioned that the District faces daunting budget challenges. According to District projections, operating deficits of $37.9 million, $36.7 million, and $36.1 million are expected over the next three fiscal years, with a negative ending balance of $78 million by 2027-28 if no changes are made.

Financial pressures stem from declining enrollment, the expiration of COVID-19 relief dollars, and rising costs, including an 8 percent increase in employee health and welfare benefits for 2025-26. A hold-harmless provision will cushion enrollment-related losses next year, and one-time fire recovery revenues will aid rebuilding, but neither addresses the structural shortfall.

To respond, the District has begun a Fiscal Stabilization Process that includes a Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee, procurement and contract reviews, transportation analysis, asset management, and staffing evaluations. Options will be prioritized this fall and presented to the Board of Education for approval.

Blanco noted that the bulk of school spending goes to personnel, meaning staffing reductions may be unavoidable starting in the 2026–27 school year.

Looking Ahead

The next Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. in the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room at 351 S. Hudson Ave.