Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Brian McDonald has named Leslie Barnes, Ed.D., as the district’s Chief Business Officer.
Barnes joins PUSD from the Pomona Unified School District where she served as Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. Barnes’ responsibilities included oversight of a $307 million annual operating budget, which served more than 23,000 students and 4,000 employees. Barnes will be joining PUSD on Thursday, Dec. 1.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Barnes to the PUSD team. Her experience and breadth of knowledge, attention to detail and ability to effectively and transparently communicate with stakeholders are important attributes,“ McDonald said.
Barnes has 23 years of experience in school business, successfully aligning educational goals and initiatives with budgets. As the Pomona Unified Assistant Superintendent and CFO for the last eight years, she was responsible for Fiscal Services, Risk Management, Food & Nutrition Services, Maintenance & Operations, Capital Facilities, Purchasing, and Information Technology Services. Under Barnes’ leadership, voters approved two bond measures to upgrade and modernize school facilities and to create 21st century collaborative learning environments for students.
“I am honored to begin this new chapter in my professional career with the Pasadena Unified School District,” said Dr. Leslie Barnes. “I look forward to contributing to the strategic alignment of PUSD’s budget as we continue to execute goals and initiatives for the children of Pasadena.”
Barnes has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Finance from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She also has a Certificate in School Business Management from California State University, Fullerton. Barnes completed the CBO Mentoring Project of the state’s Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team.
The Board of Education approved her contract on Oct. 25, 2018.
