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EDUCATION AND YOUTH 

Mountain View News Saturday, October 12, 2024

PUSD MAXIMIZES FUNDING TO ADVANCE 
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

By Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D., and 

Chief Business Officer Saman Bravo-Karimi

The Pasadena Unified School District leadership 
remains deeply committed to maintaining a 
quality education for our students while resolving 
the district’s budget shortfall due to the expiration 
of one-time COVID relief funds and lower-than-
expected State revenue.

Our priority is to increase our students’ proficiency 
in literacy and math and advance their college and 
career readiness in an environment that prioritizes 
their well-being.

PUSD's final budget for 2024-25 included measures 
to ensure fiscal stability for the next three years 
and achieved positive certification from the LA 
County Office of Education. The effort continues 
through the 2026-27 fiscal year to meet our goal 
of long-term budget sustainability. Like other 
districts across California, we are currently 
spending more than we are bringing in in 
revenue, or deficit spending. PUSD’s responsible 
fiscal stewardship during the pandemic allowed 
us to grow our one-time reserves. 

While we are fortunate that these one-time 
reserves are sufficient to cover the deficit this 
school year, we are projected to fully exhaust our 
reserves, and, in fact, have negative reserves, by 
the end of next school year if no actions are taken. 
We are facing difficult choices, but the work has 
already begun.

We have already made progress in our deep 
review of our district’s financial practices and 
operational efficiencies and are adjusting to 
improve both the short and long-term budget 
outlook In continuing our work, we are fulfilling 
our commitment to engage our community 
through the Superintendent's Budget Advisory 
Committee, gathering a wide range of views on 
our progress and future. The Advisory Committee 
is helping identify priorities and will provide 
valuable recommendations.

Here are some key steps we have taken as part of the district’s Fiscal Stability Plan that

strengthen the district’s fiscal stability by 2026-27 and beyond:

 • As a result of reductions to the 2024-25 budget, we realigned the services of central

 office staff and moved them to schools and classrooms

 • We achieved reductions as possible by attrition through retirements and closing of

 vacant positions;

 • We are reviewing hourly payroll expenses and working to bring some contracted

 services in-house

On the other side of the ledger, we are actively enhancing revenue by increasing attendance, 
managing assets, and offering services to other districts. This is wide-ranging and creative in 
developing additional revenue to offset necessary budget reductions. These have been crucial steps 
in our budget, a demanding task involving the Board of Education and our PUSD community in the 
decision-making process.

The PUSD Board of Education fully understands its responsibilities and works closely with staff to 
address this critical issue. Budget stabilization is a long-term process with many steps along the way 
to fiscal solvency, at the same time protecting the learning of the students entrusted to our care. 

Our path to fiscal stability has been challenging and is ongoing. We are committed to making

our district stronger and more efficient in serving our community of students and families/caregivers.

This effort will continue through the 2026-27 fiscal years to meet our goal of long-term budget

sustainability.

We are proud of our teachers, administrators, and staff and their professionalism. We are

committed to ensuring fair and equitable compensation for our valued employees.

SCHOOL DIRECTORY


Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 

Head of School: Joanne Harabedian

E-mail address: jharabedian@alvernoheights.org

Arcadia Christian School

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue Arcadia, CA 91006

Preschool - TK - 8th Grade

626-574-8229/626-574-0805

Email:inquiry@acslions.com

Principal: Cindy Harmon

website: www.acslions.com

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca, 

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School

Ms. Rose Navarro, Principal

2660 East Orange Grove Blvd.

Pasadena, Ca 91107

626-793-2089

https://school.abvmpasadena.org/

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 

Head of School: Tonya Beilstein

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 

Preschool-TK-8th Grade

Principal: Jonathon Hawes

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809

Principal: Nancy Lopez

www.foothilloaksacademy.org

office@foothilloaksacademy.org

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@frostig.org

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 

Head of School, Jo-Anne Woolner

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road 

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle College Preparatory

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Interim Principal Ernest Siy

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Mathew Kodama

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal: Jon McMaster (626) 355-6114 

mcmaster@st-ritaschool.org

Website: www.st-ritaschool.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 

Principal: Dr. Jodi Marchesso

E-mail address: marchesso.jodi@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

Arcadia Unified School District

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

Monrovia Unified School District

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 

Website: www.monroviaschools.net

Duarte Unified School District

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 

Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

 Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D.


Chief Business Officer Saman Bravo-Karimi


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com