Pasadena Schools Spared From Closure For Now

PASADENA, CA — The Pasadena Unified school board has decided it has made enough progress in making $10.1 million in cuts mandated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education that the planned closure of two schools may not be necessary after all, but more cuts might be necessary in the next month, it was reported Friday.

The board has made enough cuts over the past month to meet the $10.1 million two-year goal set by the county. But the last reduction it approved Thursday, $1 million in technology savings, is contingent on district staff successfully negotiating with a vendor, the Pasadena Star-News reported. If that falls through, the board will need to vote on additional reductions.

One idea is that the district could possibly save that amount by returning unused Chromebook computers that it has in storage to replace broken ones, according to the newspaper.

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The closure of Wilson Middle and Franklin Elementary schools is on the list of dozens of possible cuts. But board President Lawrence Torres and member Scott Phelps said Thursday they believe the board will not vote to shutter those schools even if more cuts are necessary this year, the Star-News reported.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock