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Pasadena Unified outlines $30 million cuts, highlights Sierra Madre schools' successes
Summary
Pasadena Unified officials told Sierra Madre City Council they must reduce roughly $30 million as part of a fiscal stabilization plan but emphasized strong student outcomes at Sierra Madre Elementary and Middle School and robust high-school pathways at Pasadena High School.
Pasadena Unified School District leaders told the Sierra Madre City Council that the district faces deep budget reductions while continuing to promote strong local school performance and expanded high-school pathways.
"We needed to reduce about $27,000,000," Superintendent Dr. Blanco said of last-year efforts, "and now this year, we have to reduce about $30,000,000." She said the district is pursuing a fiscal stabilization plan that includes a superintendent's budget advisory committee and five work streams reviewing central office, grant maximization and asset management. The board will hold a study session Nov. 13 and take action Nov. 20, Blanco said.
The presentation underscored that, even amid cuts, the district aims to maintain core services and academic quality for students who attend Sierra Madre schools. Sierra Madre Elementary Principal Dr. Jody Marqueso said the elementary school now offers two transitional-kindergarten classrooms and currently enrolls about 650 students. "On the 2024 dashboard, we were blue ... in both math and ELA," Marqueso said, noting the school earned a 2025 California Distinguished School designation.
Sierra Madre Middle School reported exceptional growth on the district''administered I-Ready assessments. "Our school actually had the largest growth in reading, a 189%, and math, a 175% in the entire district," Principal Newsome said, adding that the school has sustained extracurricular achievements and restorative-practices programs.
Officials also described Pasadena High School (PHS) offerings for Sierra Madre students, including the law and public service academy, CAMAD (digital/printed design and applied arts), expanded AP courses (23 offered this year), a math academy with a new Caltech partnership and strengthened career-technical internships. Helen Chan Hill, PUSD chief academic officer, noted arts and athletics pathways as well: the district's all-star band was accepted to march in the 2027 Rose Parade, and PHS has added production, theater and upgraded stage technology.
The district thanked the city for moving quickly to restore crossing guards after community concerns and asked for continued collaboration, including a proposed tri-city committee with Pasadena and Altadena to coordinate crossing-guard and safety efforts. Sierra Madre principals also requested continued city partnership for an annual Thanksgiving food drive serving Sierra Madre Elementary, Middle School and Madison Elementary.
Why it matters: The district's fiscal outlook drives decisions that could affect staffing, programs and support services. For Sierra Madre residents the presentation emphasized that local schools are performing well on state metrics and that the district remains committed to maintaining robust high-school pathways despite fiscal constraints.
What comes next: PUSD's fiscal stabilization recommendations will be ranked by the superintendent's advisory group, presented to the board Nov. 13 and decided Nov. 20. City and district staff said they will continue conversations about crossing-guard arrangements and community partnerships.
Provenance: The presentation and direct quotes are drawn from the PUSD delegation's remarks to council (presentation began at 00:25:14 and discussion concluded at 00:44:44 in the meeting transcript).
