School board seeks waiver from 55% spending rule
Trustees said wildfire costs and contracted staffing skew the state formula, and a denial could require roughly $11 million in added classroom spending.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — board approves 55% classroom spending waiver, board approves allendale park use agreement, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The board’s vote sends Sacramento a clear argument: the district says the 55% test misses how it is already paying to run schools.
A state formula is now at the center of budget math. The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education approved a request to waive California’s 55% classroom instruction spending requirement, arguing that the district’s numbers are being distorted by wildfire costs and contracted staffing. Trustees said those expenses can make the district appear out of step with the rule even when the underlying budget reflects day-to-day school operations.
The immediate stake is money. Trustees said a rejected waiver could force roughly $11 million in additional spending to meet the classroom-instruction threshold. That would not be a small bookkeeping change. It would mean finding room in the budget for a large new obligation because of how the state counts spending, not because the district suddenly changed its priorities.
The vote does not settle the issue on its own. It authorizes the district to submit its case to the state and explain why this year’s calculation should be treated differently. For families and staff, the next step is outside the boardroom: the waiver request now moves into a state review process that will determine whether Pasadena Unified gets relief from the 55% requirement or must adjust its spending plan.
Board approves Allendale Park use agreement with city
The board approved a new use agreement for Allendale Park. The memorandum of understanding with the City of Pasadena covers use of the park, including the baseball field, and sets terms for how city and district activities can share the space.
Trustees quickly turned from the agreement itself to a practical question: what happens to student access when another public agency is using district-linked outdoor space? They asked how city use of the property could affect the LEARNS program, especially at Longfellow and Blair, where outdoor access matters for after-school programming.
That makes the agreement more than a facilities item. The board approved the MOU, but trustees signaled they want a close look at scheduling and availability so city use does not crowd out student programs. The key issue now is how the district and city manage the field and surrounding space once the agreement takes effect.
No one speaks before closed session
Before going into closed session, the board opened public comment on the listed items and heard nothing from the audience. The comment period then closed, clearing the way for the board to move directly into its private agenda.
Closed session can cover sensitive personnel or legal matters, so the lack of speakers meant no public input before deliberations.
Board president urges respectful public meetings
Before the main agenda, the board president addressed recent disorder at meetings and thanked attendees and staff for their time and commitment. He said everyone shares responsibility for keeping meetings safe, respectful, and centered on students.
Meeting conduct affects whether residents, staff, and families can safely participate in school board decisions.
Board updates agents for state filings
The board approved Resolution 2905 to update which designated agents can handle applications and processing with agencies including CalOES. The change sets who can sign and submit required documents for the district.
Keeping authorized signers current helps the district complete grant and emergency reimbursement paperwork without delays.
Board approves GANN limit resolution
The board approved Resolution 2904 on the district’s 2026–27 estimated appropriation limitation calculation. Staff described it as a required SACS compliance form and said the GANN limit report is informational, not a penalty on the district.
Approved GANN appropriation-limit calculations described as a required informational compliance report.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
PASADENA had 16 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Resolution 3 (required filing/appropriation form for schools). The board approved “Resolución tres,” described as a required form/report that must be filed, characterized as an appropriation-related requirement for schools and governmental entities. The item passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEMotion to Extend Meeting to 10:45 p.m.. During discussion of the Form CA waiver item, the Board approved a motion to extend the meeting to 10:45 p.m.
- GOVERNANCEClosed session concluded; report out and reconvening to open session. After closed session, the board reported that closed session actions had been taken (without detailing them in the transcript), stated closed session was completed, and reconvened open session at 8:23 PM with roll call.
- GOVERNANCEBoard approves filing 2025–26 unaudited actuals. The board approved the district's 2025–26 unaudited actual financial report for submission to LACOE. Discussion covered expiring restricted funds, maintenance, Medi-Cal revenue, special education costs, insurance increases, and large budget-to-actual variances.
- GOVERNANCESpeakers press board on budget, staffing and waiver. During agenda-item public comment, three speakers raised concerns about budget variances, staffing reductions, class sizes, and accountability for bond and other funds. One speaker opposed the 55% classroom spending waiver request, and another asked the district to restore positions cut earlier.
- GOVERNANCETrustees question unaudited actuals and Form CA. Board members pressed staff on the Form CA 55% calculation, wildfire expense treatment, waiver timing, fund balances, expiring grants, and multi-year comparisons. They also raised concerns about how large projection-to-actual variances affect staffing, bargaining, and budget decisions.
- GOVERNANCEStaff presents 2025–26 unaudited actuals. Staff presented the district's 2025–26 unaudited actuals, including revenues, expenditures, wildfire-related accounting effects, fund balances, and major budget variances. The presentation also covered the Form CA 55% issue, submission to LACOE, and next steps for the independent audit.
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