EDUCATION AND YOUTH 
Mountain View News Saturday, July 18, 2026 
66 EDUCATION AND YOUTH 
Mountain View News Saturday, July 18, 2026 
66 
PUSD SOIL REMEDIATION PROCESS AND 
COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY 

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) 
understands the deep concern many members of 
our community feel about the removal of trees 
from District campuses. We share the community’s 
love for these trees, and we do not take the removal 
of any tree lightly. 

But the public discussion has increasingly 
suggested that PUSD moved forward without 
notice, without coordination, and without regard 
for the City of Pasadena, regulatory agencies, or the 
broader community. That is simply not accurate. 

Following the Eaton Fire, environmental testingidentified fire-related contaminants in soil 
at multiple PUSD campuses. The California 
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) 
reviewed the District’s findings and concurred 
that “...impacted soil present an imminent and 
substantial threat to school property users; removal 
and replacement of the impacted soil is necessary 
to ensure continued safe use of the properties; 
affected infrastructure, trees, and vegetation must 
also be removed and replaced as part of protective 
actions.” 

DTSC further affirmed that “timely action to 
remove all impacted soil is the most protective and 
effective approach on school properties”. 

Today, the District is releasing a timeline and 
supporting documents to provide a fuller public 
record of how this work developed. That record 
reflects months of coordination with the City and 
other public agencies, including meetings, project 
reviews, submission of plans and applications, and 
repeated requests for guidance regarding permits, 
tree replacement, grading, trucking, and other 
issues. 

It also shows that, after reviewing the District's 
project materials and DTSC correspondence, 
the City informed PUSD that its Tree Protection 
Ordinance did not apply to this hazardous material 
and soil removal project before later reversing that 
position. 

PUSD recognizes that the City now disagrees with 
the District’s position on jurisdiction and process. 
That legal issue remains under discussion between 
the parties. But disagreement today does not erase 
the months of outreach, documentation, and 
coordination that occurred before the work began. 
The District did not proceed in secret. It did not 
ignore the City. It did not decide on its own that 
these campuses needed cleanup. 

PUSD remains willing 

to work constructively 
with the City and other partners. But the District 
cannot allow an inaccurate narrative to obscure 
the facts or delay the work necessary to return 
students, staff, families, and school communities 
to safe, healthy, fully usable campuses. 

“We understand why tree removal is painful 
and why people are asking hard questions,” said 
PUSD Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D. 
“We welcome those questions. Where trees can 
safely remain, PUSD is working to preserve them. 
But where contaminated soil must be removed 
to protect students and staff, and where no 
feasible alternative allows that work to be 
completed safely and on time, the District has an 
obligation to complete the cleanup.” 

TIMELINE 
January 2025 – The Eaton Fire ignites, tearing 
through Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre,
becoming the second most destructive fire in 
California history. The Eaton Fire destroys five 
PUSD schools. More than 10,000 PUSD students 
were evacuated and nearly 1,000 lost their homes, 
as did more than 120 employees. 

Testing Begins 

February/March 2025 – Environmental testingbegins in consultation with the Pasadena Public 
Health Department (PPHD), the Department of 
Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), LA CountyPublic Health, and the City of Pasadena. 

April 16, 2025 – PPHD recommends exposed soil 
testing for schools and childcare centers. PPHD 
also strongly recommends closing affected outdoor 
areas pending results. 

Spring/Summer 2025 – PUSD completes first-
phase soil testing across all 34 campuses/locations. 
Fire-related contaminants, lead, arsenic, and other 
substances are found at multiple sites. 

July 16, 2025 – PUSD and DTSC enter a Master 
Voluntary Cleanup Agreement covering Edison 
Elementary School, Eliot Arts Magnet Middle 
School, Franklin Elementary School, Loma Alta 
Elementary School, Noyes Elementary School, and 
San Rafael Elementary School. 

January 7, 2026 – Master Voluntary CleanupAgreement amended to include Blair High School,
PUSD Education Center, John Muir High School,
Cleveland Elementary School, Field ElementarySchool, Jefferson Elementary School, Washington 
Elementary School, Octavia E. Butler Magnet 
Middle School, and Longfellow ElementarySchool. 

Before 2025-26 school year – Eight campuses 
cleaned up and fully reopened; soil-contaminated 
spaces on 11 campuses remain closed for further 
testing and cleanup. 

City of Pasadena and PUSD Coordination 

January 22, 2026 – The PUSD Board of Education 
approves Resolution 2797, authorizing emergency 
remediation work at District school sites, and 
Resolution 2798 proclaiming the existence of a 
local emergency related to wildfire damage. The 
resolutions authorize the PUSD Superintendent to 
execute contracts and request technical expertise, 
resources, and financial assistance from the 
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal 
OES) and the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency. 

Alverno Heights Academy High Point Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 
1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road(626) 355-3463 
Pasadena, Ca. 91107 
Head of School: Joanne Harabedian 
Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989 
E-mail address: 
website: www.highpointacademy.orgjharabedian@alvernoheights.org 


La Salle College PreparatoryArcadia Christian School 3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. 

Investigations Findings Summary Letter to DTSC 
for concurrence. 

February 24, 2026 – PUSD meets with the City’s 
Zoning Administrator regarding the anticipated 
tree removals. 

February 25, 2026 – DTSC issues its response 
to PUSD’s February 17 letter, concurring with 
PUSD’s findings and saying in part, “...impacted 
soil present an imminent and substantial threat to 
school property users; removal and replacement of 
the impacted soil is necessary to ensure continued 
safe use of the properties; affected infrastructure, 
trees, and vegetation must also be removed and 
replaced as part of protective actions.” 

February 26, 2026 – PUSD sends the DTSC letter 
to the City, advising them of the District’s plan 
to proceed with tree removals over the summer, 
and inquiring about replacement protocols. The 
District submits the Longfellow ElementarySchool soil removal and tree replacement plan as 
an example, to determine whether the format and 
level of detail are sufficient. 

April 1, 2026 – After more than 30 days, the Cityadvises PUSD of its opinion that Private Tree 
Removal permits are required for protected trees. 
The City also advises that, because the remediation 
is not classified as a “project”, replacement trees are 
not required under the Tree Protection Ordinance, 
although PUSD may voluntarily replace the trees 
(which is currently planned). 

April 23, 2026 – PUSD issues a Request for 
Proposals (RFP) for bids on soil removal work. 

April 27, 2026 – While reiterating that the removal 
work will be proceeding over the summer, in good 
faith, PUSD shares its tree removal chart, scope 
maps, and overall remediation scope with the City 
and asks whether trucking, traffic, grading, or 
other City permits or coordination are required. 
The City advises that the local building department 
does not have jurisdiction over on-site grading 
work at school properties, and that no Public 
Works permit is required if trucks only enter and 
exit through existing campus access points. 

May 14, 2026 – PUSD leadership meets with City 
of Pasadena leaders to discuss contaminated soil 
and tree removal plans. 

May 20, 2026 – PUSD leadership meets again with 
City leadership, now including DTSC leadership, to 
discuss contaminated soil and tree removal plans. 
The City also asks PUSD to submit application 
materials and site-specific tree removal maps for 
the upcoming work. 

May 28, 2026 – PUSD Board of Education approves 
construction contract for soil and tree removal 
work. 

June 9, 2026 – At the City's request, and although 
the District believed (and continues to believe) 
the applications were not legally required, PUSD 
submitted comprehensive tree removal application 
materials, including a Master Application, Private 
Tree Removal Application, and site-specific tree 
removal maps. 

June 12, 2026 – After reviewing the District's 
applications, supporting materials, and DTSC 
correspondence, the City informs PUSD that “it 
has been determined that the City’s Tree Protection 
Ordinance does not apply to this project.” Their 
communication goes on to say, “Based on the 
information contained in the [February 25 letter 
from DTSC], the removal of the trees identified…
is part of a hazardous material and soil removal 
plan for school sites. As such, the removal of the 
impacted trees is not subject to the City’s Tree 
Protection Ordinance, and a Private Tree Removal 
application is not required.” 

June 13, 2026 – PUSD acknowledges the City’s 
determination, and informs the City that it will 
proceed accordingly. 

June 15, 2026 – PUSD and DTSC issue a joint 
statement on safe soil cleanup. 

June 17, 2026 – The City informs PUSD that it is 
revisiting its June 12 determination, and asks for 
work that has already begun to be halted. 

June 19, 2026 – The PUSD Board authorizes 
continuation of the remediation project, 
concluding that the District could not delayDTSC-overseen soil removal work necessary to 
protect student safety and reopen closed areas at 
campuses including play areas, grass playfields, 
courtyards, community gardens, student gardens 
and landscape planters in time for the start of the 
school year. 

This was particularly important since remediation 
work had already begun, and the City had alreadydetermined that its Tree Protection Ordinance did 
not apply. In doing so, the Board agreed to preserve 
all protected trees through alternative means, at an 
increased cost to the District of at least $2 million. 

June 25, 2026 – The City officially reverses its June 
12 determination and advises PUSD of its opinion 
that the project is subject to City zoning and 
building regulations, including the Tree Protection 
Ordinance. 

July 1, 2026 – The City issues stop-work notices 
at seven campuses. PUSD asserts that soil work 
falls outside City permitting jurisdiction, and that 
complying with the notices could delay reopening 
of affected outdoor spaces. 

July 6, 2026 – PUSD responds to the City’s stop 
work notices, reaffirming that the District’s state-
overseen soil remediation project is not subject to 
the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance. 

After months of coordination, and following the 
City’s reversal of its earlier position after work had 
begun, the District advised that it had an obligation 
to continue the remediation necessary to protect 
student health and reopen campuses safely. 

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue 

Arcadia, CA91006Preschool -TK - 8th Grade 
626-574-8229/626-574-0805Email:inquiry@acslions.comPrincipal: Cindy Harmonwebsite: 
www.acslions.com 


Arcadia High School

180 Campus DriveArcadia, CA91007Phone: (626) 821-8370,
Principal: Brent Forseebforsee@ausd.net 


Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca,

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil ClarkeE-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org 
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MarySchool 

Robert Bringas, Jr., Principal2660 East Orange Grove Blvd.

Pasadena, Ca 91107

626-793-2089 
https://school.abvmpasadena.org/ 


Barnhart School 

240 W. 
Colorado Blvd 
Arcadia, Ca. 
91007 
(626) 446-5588Head of School: 
Tonya BeilsteinKindergarten - 8th gradewebsite: www.barnhartschool.org 


Bethany Christian School

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

(626) 355-3527Preschool-TK-8th Grade 
Principal: Jonathan Haweswebsite: www. bcslions.org 


Clairbourn School 

8400 Huntington DriveSan Gabriel, CA91775Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172 
FAX: 626-286-1528 


Marianne Ryan

administration@clairbourn.orgE-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org 


Foothill Oaks Academy

822 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809Principal: Nancy Lopezwww.foothilloaksacademy.orgoffice@foothilloaksacademy.org 


Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive 
Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255Head of School: Jenny JanetzkeEmail: jenny@frostig.org 


The Gooden School 

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

(626) 355-2410Head of School, Jo-Anne Woolnerwebsite: www.goodenschool.org 


Holy Angels School

PK-8th Grade 
360 Campus DriveArcadia, CA91007626-447-6312 
office@holyangelsarcadia.orgPrincipal:Aimee Dyrekholyangelsarcadia.net 


Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 351-8951website: www.lasallehs.orgPrincipal Ernest Siy 


Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive,
Monrovia, CA91016

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin JacksonEmail: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us 
Odyssey Charter School

725 W.Altadena Dr. 


Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993Head of School: Lauren O’Neill 
website: www.odysseycharterschool.org 


Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.
(626) 396-5880Principal: Dr. Eric Barba 
website: http://phs.pusd.us 


St. Rita Catholic School 

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

Principal: Jon McMaster (626) 355-6114mcmaster@st-ritaschool.orgWebsite: www.st-ritaschool.org 


Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. HighlandAve,

Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428Principal: Dr. Jodi MarchessoE-mail address: marchesso.jodi@pusd.us 


Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024(626) 836-2947Principal: Garrett NewsomE-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) 797-0204Lisa Feldman: Head of School 


Wilson Middle School 

300 S. Madre St. 
Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

(626) 449-7390 
Principal: Ruth EsselnE-mail address: resseln@pusd.us 
Pasadena Unified School District 


351 S. HudsonAve.,

Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600Website: 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) 471-2000Website: www.monroviaschools.net 


Duarte Unified School District 


1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010 
(626)599-5000Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us 



February 13, 2026 – Representatives from PUSD Ongoing, Summer 2026 – Replacement of clean 

and the City meet regarding the anticipated soil continues, with one-to-one replanting of trees 

tree removals and follow up to arrange further soon to be underway at the 11 campuses, under 

coordination. DTSC oversight, with the goal of fully restoring 

outdoor spaces for use by our children for the 

February 17, 2026 – PUSD submits Fire-Related 2026-2027 school year. 

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