South Pasadena Unified board orders June 2 bond election after facilities master plan presentation

The South Pasadena Unified Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution March 3 to place a bond measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot after receiving an updated facilities master plan from SVA Architects.

The resolution, identified in meeting material as Resolution 2025-2026-11, directs the county registrar to place the measure on the ballot. Board President Doctor Kipke called the vote after a presentation outlining projects across district campuses and a board discussion of priorities and timing.

Christopher Bradley, an architect with SVA Architects, told the board the master plan is "a snapshot of where you are today with your facilities, and it's a road map for where you wanna go in the future for your facilities, serving your staff, students, and community along the way." Bradley said the update reflects more than 20 meetings with district staff and stakeholders and groups proposed projects into safety and security, deferred maintenance, building improvements and site improvements.

Bradley walked the board through site-specific proposals including new TK classrooms and restroom buildings at Arroyo Vista, Marengo and Monterey Hills; replacement of aging portable classrooms; fencing upgrades; restroom refurbishments; replacement of synthetic turf and playground fall protection; middle-school auditorium and entry repairs; and a substantial restoration and seismic upgrade for the high-school auditorium that would add HVAC, theatrical-system upgrades and ADA accessibility. He also recommended resurfacing and pool-house work at the district aquatic center.

Bradley said district-wide technology and cybersecurity upgrades were a major theme of the plan and estimated roughly $30,000,000 over 10 years for capital and recurring IT-related costs. He said shifting those costs to bond funding would relieve pressure on the general fund.

Board members questioned how projects would be prioritized and scheduled to limit disruption. Bradley said sequencing and detailed implementation would be "a next step" driven by district priorities, operational constraints and efforts to minimize student displacement. On the pool, Bradley said the work "would likely take longer than a single summer," but could be timed to reduce impact to aquatics programs.

In remarks reflecting on past work, President Doctor Kipke said state funding is insufficient to meet the district's needs and that local support has been essential: "We do not receive enough money to run the schools," he said, framing the bond as a means to maintain and preserve facilities rather than wait for major failures.

After discussion, a board member moved to approve the resolution and another seconded the motion. The board voted by roll call: Miss Adams — Aye; Doctor Kipke — Aye; Doctor Martinez Miller — Aye; Mister Rupp — Aye; Miss Daniels — Aye. The motion passed 5-0.

Doctor Baxter said next steps include signing and filing the required documents with the county registrar to place the measure on the June 2 ballot and coordinating a bond campaign that will provide factual information to the community; he added that district employees may participate "after hours or during lunch or breaks" but that the district will step back from active advocacy while informational materials are provided.

The board adjourned after completing the item.