Recall Tina Fredericks
A May 2026 Stanford University brief found that savings from closures are routinely offset by enrollment loss, fixed costs transferred to remaining schools, and community disruption, with no meaningful improvement to per-pupil fiscal balance.
Students forced to switch schools experience drops in math and reading achievement that widen over time. Students from standalone middle schools are 18% more likely to not enroll in 10th grade, a harm compounded when a 6–12 school is converted to middle-school-only.
In March 2026, Harden privately used AI to research high school consolidations and admitted it was "hard to find success stories", while publicly telling parents Marshall was "fine."
PUSD's Legal Justification for Closing Schools Doesn't Hold Up
The EIA projects $4.6M in annual savings from closing Blair and Marshall. When asked for the basis, TSS cited "professional experience." No underlying data, no methodology, no source.
Moving Blair and Marshall students to schools miles away will require new bus routes. The EIA excluded all transportation costs as "too uncertain to estimate" — while locking in the savings.
Pasadena High and John Muir don't have capacity for the incoming students. The EIA used outdated capacity figures and acknowledged the deficit — then recommended the closures anyway.
Marshall (3.54% FCI) and Blair (6.52%) have lower facility repair costs than Pasadena High (7.22%) and John Muir (9.58%). The district is closing its better-maintained campuses.
The School Community Advisory Committee — the body convened specifically to review the EIA — voted unanimously to reject the report's findings. The board moved forward anyway.
PUSD's LACOE-required Fiscal Stabilization Plan lists 13 items totaling $83.1M in savings. Closing schools is not one of them. The board added closures on top — without updating the plan.
"I think it would be best to not mention our discussions to the superintendent and let her own the process."
"Since all emails to TSS are discoverable with a Freedom of Information Request, you may wish to consider getting Sarine involved... which would allow the communication to be protected by attorney client privilege."
"Note, we are a 7 member board so this is as many board members we can have within the Brown Act."
A Formal Demand Has Been Sent to PUSD
A Cure and Correct Letter under California Government Code § 54960.1 was delivered to the PUSD Board demanding they immediately suspend Resolution 2852 and all related school closure processes. They have 30 days to comply, or face litigation.
"Board President Fredericks and Board Members Harden, Velázquez, and Kenne are engaging in unlawful, private deliberations in the form of serial communications in violation of the Brown Act."
"Immediately suspend its ongoing District Transformation Planning Process, suspend its ongoing Equity Impact Analysis, suspend any decision to vote to close schools... Board Resolution 2852 must be rescinded."
"If you fail to cure or correct as demanded, such inaction will lead to litigation and judicial invalidation of the challenged actions pursuant to Section 54960.1."
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Sign the PetitionIn the News
Newly released public records reveal Fredericks' private plan closes 7 campuses, eliminates Marshall as a high school, splits Blair's IB program, and proposes converting school sites to solar farms or selling them — while a Stanford brief finds school closures in California don't generate expected fiscal savings.
At a May 14 special meeting, multiple community members publicly demanded the resignations of Board President Tina Fredericks, Scott Harden, Kim Kenne, and Yarma Velázquez, citing Brown Act violations, undisclosed communications with TSS, and private deliberations on the school consolidation process. Sierra Madre Mayor Kristine Lowe threatened a formal recall campaign. The board adjourned into closed session with no reportable action.