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Pasadena Unified board ratifies settlement and adopts resolutions to implement certificated and classified layoffs amid public protest
Summary
Trustees ratified a settlement with the teachers’ union and adopted two resolutions authorizing certificated and classified layoffs, drawing public comment about $15 million in reported savings and pleas to protect school programs and jobs. Board members and the superintendent described structural funding limits and declining enrollment as drivers of the cuts.
The Governing Board of the Pasadena Unified School District on a majority vote ratified a settlement agreement with United Teachers of Pasadena and adopted two resolutions to implement certificated and classified layoffs, actions board members said were required by the district’s fiscal condition.
During public comment prior to the votes, Jonathan Gardner, president of United Teachers of Pasadena, cited the district’s second interim report and told the board, “This $15 million means you have plenty of funding to do the right thing with these 60-plus laid-off teachers as well as the 46 temporary labeled teachers.” Gardner urged the district to hire locally for special education roles rather than rely on outside consultants.
Trustee Kimberly Kenny reviewed the arithmetic presented with the resolutions, saying the certificated resolution lists 62 layoffs and that earlier terminations of 49 temporary employees brought the combined total to 111. “That’s still 111 employees. That’s still a large number,” she said, and noted prior FTE reductions earlier in the year.
Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco explained the district’s budget dynamics to trustees, saying Pasadena Unified is “a declining enrollment district, so we’re dealing with less children, which equates to less staff.” Blanco described the trade-offs school sites face when they hire people on categorical or one‑time funds and said district staff were seeking longer-term funder commitments where possible.
Board members moved and seconded approval of the settlement and the resolutions. The record shows the motions were approved and recorded as passed. The meeting transcript does not include detailed roll-call tallies for the recorded votes; the board chair announced the motions passed.
Trustees and public speakers repeatedly framed the layoffs as part of a recurring cycle tied to one‑time funding, and several called for legislative advocacy to change how K‑12 funding is phased and distributed so districts can better plan three‑year budgets. A teacher who spoke during public comment described the emotional toll of recurring layoffs and urged decision-makers to prioritize continuity for students.
The board also heard requests that the district prioritize returning affected employees where possible and that philanthropy and district partners pursue multi‑year commitments to preserve roles funded on a temporary basis. After completing action on the resolutions, the board adjourned the meeting.
Next procedural steps, including implementation timelines for the adopted resolutions, were not detailed in the public transcript.
