Enrollment down by 500 students
By Terry Miller
On Thursday, Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education will enter into a difficult study session for a list of options facing the district’s need to reduce spending by $10 million for 2020-2021.
On the possible chopping block are three schools: Wilson, Cleveland and Franklin. These schools have been earmarked for possible closure or consolidation by the Board of Education in an effort to cut costs.
“We’re going to move past this. However, this is going to test our resolve,” Hilda Ramirez Horvath told Pasadena Independent Wednesday morning referencing the speculation surrounding the outcome of the study session.
With declining enrollment, Ramirez Horvath pointed out that 500 fewer students will have a significant impact on the district. Budget reductions from $4 million to $10 million pose an enormous challenge for the district.
With a December deadline looming, following the recent cuts already mandated by LACOE (Los Angeles County Office of Education), PUSD has some tough decisions ahead. Meanwhile, Ramirez Horvath points out that PUSD has made significant strides in a positive direction with state test results showing PUSD students making significant increases. So with positive student achievement in test scores, the Board of Education is hoping to continue this trend despite the fiscal challenges.
