Total School Solutions
TSS Runs Hacienda La Puente School Reconfiguration
TSS Executive Vice President Joseph Pandolfo (Ed.D.) prepares a community presentation for Hacienda La Puente Unified School District on school reconfiguration in response to declining enrollment. LACOE had been regularly citing Hacienda La Puente as a model district for financially struggling schools.
Pandolfo Advises Fredericks to Shield Communications from Public Records
At 5:30 AM, TSS Executive Vice President Joseph Pandolfo emails Fredericks: "Since all emails to TSS are discoverable with a Freedom of Information Request, you may wish to consider getting Sarine involved in communications about this subject which would allow the communication to be protected by attorney client privilege." (Sarine Abrahamian is PUSD's outside attorney.) TSS President Tahir Ahad separately suggests Fredericks title the board action item "Enrollment Projections & Facilities Use Analysis" rather than anything referencing consolidation or closures.
TSS Sends Draft Board Resolution to Fredericks
Ahad emails Fredericks a draft board resolution, "Pasadena Board item.docx", with the note: "Please review and modify as needed." The public board vote on Resolution 2852 will not occur for three more weeks.
TSS Sends Sample Equity Impact Analysis
Pandolfo emails Fredericks and Velázquez a sample Equity Impact Analysis TSS prepared for Inglewood USD, explaining how the public comment process works. TSS is still more than two months from being formally contracted.
Ahad Emails Fredericks Before Contract
TSS President Tahir Ahad emails Board President Tina Fredericks before TSS has been formally contracted. Ahad advises on language and recommends keeping their discussions from the superintendent.
"I think it would be best to not mention our discussions to the superintendent and let her own the process."Tahir Ahad, TSS President, email to Board President Tina Fredericks, December 1, 2025
Ahad advised Fredericks about "friendlier language" for discussing closures, suggesting terms like "School Reconfiguration" and "School Optimization."Colorado Boulevard, May 11, 2026
TSS Contract Approved 5–2
The PUSD board approves TSS's $233,300 contract to serve as the consolidation process consultant. The contract passes 5–2.
Pandolfo Concedes Cost Savings Projections Were Inaccurate
At the SCAC meeting, TSS Executive Vice President Joseph Pandolfo concedes that his projected cost savings for each proposed school closure were inaccurate and overstated. He had used wrong data and failed to account for the $24.5 million in budget cuts the PUSD board had already passed in November 2025.
↗ Colorado Boulevard: Inside the PUSD Consolidation Plan, May 11, 2026 ↗ Colorado Boulevard: Pasadena Unified Consolidation Committee Faces Scrutiny ↗ Exhibits to PUSD Brown Act Violation (CPRA document production)