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Pasadena Unified cuts 151 positions as enrollment losses continue across California
Pasadena Unified School District faced declining enrollment well before the Eaton Fire destroyed a significant amount of the community.
(
Mariana Dale
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LAist
)
Topline:
The Pasadena Unified School District board of education voted Thursday evening to cut 151 full-time positions in response to continued enrollment problems.
What's going on? Enrollment has been shrinking each of the last five years, and that was before the Eaton Fire destroyed schools and homes in the PUSD area. District officials say many of the staffing cuts will be to non-classroom positions. PUSD cut 200 positions last year as well. (Some positions are vacant, the district said.)
Why it matters: PUSD is the latest district to get caught up in the reality of California's shrinking population. The state funds schools based on enrollment and attendance, and the state has fewer and fewer school-age children. The end of federal COVID-19 relief money and limited state funding compound schools' financial challenges.
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Go deeper: Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco discussed the district's financial situation with LAist's public affairs program AirTalk:
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24:24
Checking in on K-12 education as districts continue to struggle with enrollment, closures
Senior editor Ross Brenneman contributed to this story.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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