In the wake of the devastation caused by the Eaton Fire, Pasadena Unified School District has announced a phased reopening plan over a two-week period to ensure campuses are safe and ready to welcome students back. The Eaton Fire significantly impacted the District, with severe damage reported at five campuses: Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Franklin Elementary (closed in 2020), and three charter schools—Edison, Loma Alta, and Noyes. More than 10,000 of PUSD’s 14,000 students were evacuated from their homes. To restore a sense of normalcy and provide stability for students, campuses located further from the fire’s impact will reopen first, allowing the community to begin its path toward healing.
Schools across Pasadena Unified School District have enhanced campus safety with the installation of state-of-the-art, front-entry security systems, funded by Measure O, underscoring the District’s commitment to the safety and well-being of students and staff. To date, front-entry security systems have been installed at nine locations, including Franklin, Sierra Madre, Washington, and Willard elementary schools; Eliot Arts Magnet Academy; McKinley K-8 School; Wilson Middle School; and John Muir and Rose City high schools, with plans to complete installations at all District sites.
Willard Elementary School students and staff are enjoying newly renovated first and second-floor restrooms, funded by Measure O, that bring a cleaner, more modern, and welcoming environment to the school. Construction on the second-floor restrooms finished in summer 2024, with the first-floor restrooms now also complete and open for daily use. The upgrades include new concrete flooring, modern wall and floor tiling, and updated fixtures, including sinks, toilets, partitions, and hand dryers – all necessary improvements in Willard Elementary’s historic building.
Pasadena Unified School District students are benefitting from innovative technology, made possible through Measure O funds, that enhances their learning, fosters classroom engagement, and equips them for success in an ever-evolving world. In 2021, Pasadena Unified implemented a Districtwide technology upgrade, providing every student with a Google Chromebook. This initiative ensured students had the essential tools to excel both in the classroom and at home.
