The Timeline

Final Board Vote Scheduled

The PUSD board is scheduled to take a final vote on school closures. The public record includes the emails, text messages, and CPRA documents released through records requests filed in March and April 2026.

Public Hearings on School Closures

The PUSD board holds required public hearings on the proposed closures. Any closures approved would take effect for the 2027–28 school year.

Resignations Demanded at Special Board Meeting

At a special meeting, multiple community members publicly demand the resignations of Fredericks, Harden, Kenne, and Velázquez, citing Brown Act violations, undisclosed communications with TSS, and private deliberations on the consolidation process. The board adjourns into closed session. No reportable action is announced.

Sierra Madre Mayor Kristine "Kris" Lowe, a 27-year public school educator, addresses Fredericks directly:

PTA Council President Lisa Kroese, Fredericks' opponent in the 2024 District 6 election, also addresses the board:

An 8th grade student, Lando Marchese, addresses the board:

Board Approves 161+ Staff Layoffs

The board approves Resolutions 2858 and 2859, cutting 161.35 full-time equivalent certificated positions — teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians, and instructional support staff — along with classified staff including custodians, security officers, and behavioral health workers. The largest single category is 31 coach positions. Board members concede during the meeting that "this cycle will likely repeat."

SCAC Rejects All Six Closure Proposals

At its final meeting, the Superintendent's School Consolidation Advisory Committee votes against every proposed closure or consolidation scenario. The six proposals — Don Benito Elementary, Norma Coombs Elementary, McKinley Elementary, McKinley Middle School, Thurgood Marshall Secondary, and Blair High School — each receive more opposition than support. The Don Benito merger vote is 9 in favor, 20 opposed. The Norma Coombs merger is 8 in favor, 21 opposed. The SCAC's comments and input move to the board alongside a draft Equity Impact Analysis. The June 25 board vote proceeds regardless.

Colorado Boulevard Publishes Investigative Report

Colorado Boulevard publishes its investigative report documenting the pre-contract TSS contact, serial board member communications, the "Consolidation 2027" presentation, and Harden's statements to Marshall parents alongside his private text messages.

TSS Acknowledges Errors in Cost Savings Projections

At the SCAC meeting, TSS Executive Vice President Joseph Pandolfo acknowledges that projected cost savings for proposed school closures were inaccurate. He states the projections used incorrect data and did not account for the $24.5 million in budget reductions the board had already approved in November 2025.

Fredericks Credits Blanco for Hiring TSS, While Hiding Her Own Role

Responding to Warren Bleeker's complaint about SCAC interference, Fredericks writes: "As directed by the Board by Resolution 2582, Superintendent Dr. Blanco has designated Total School Solutions, to be the independent, reliable, and unbiased external expertise to lead the process."

The framing is false. Documents produced by CPRA request show that Fredericks had been coordinating privately with TSS President Tahir Ahad since at least November 2025, more than two months before Blanco formally reached out to TSS. TSS sent Fredericks a draft board resolution in November. TSS advised Fredericks to route communications through PUSD's attorney to shield them from public records. Fredericks chose TSS; Blanco ratified it.

Warren Demands Fredericks Rein In Harden and Kenne

Warren Bleeker writes to Fredericks: "I believe it is important for the public and the SCAC to understand that those Trustees do not speak for the Board. To the extent Trustee Kenne continues to personally attend SCAC meetings, chat with Pandolfo, roll her eyes, etc., I believe that you, as the Board President, should issue a public statement clarifying that all Board Members have been asked not to attend the SCAC meetings." Fredericks responds by asking Bleeker to call her.

TSS Consultant Tells SCAC: Voting to Keep Schools Open "May Not Be in the Best Interest" of Students

At the March 31 SCAC meeting, TSS Executive Vice President Joseph Pandolfo tells committee members that if their "mindset" is to keep schools open, "that may not be in the best interest of all the kids in the District." When committee members ask whether they can vote to not close schools, Pandolfo responds: "It is a consolidation committee, so that's what we're studying and that's what everyone signed up for." The committee was told by the superintendent that "consolidation may or may not be the end product."

During the same meeting, Trustee Kenne, who was advised by TSS not to attend SCAC meetings, is present in the room. When Marshall students hold up handmade signs asking the committee to save their school, Kenne rolls her eyes.

Community Protests Outside PUSD Headquarters

Nearly 100 parents, students, and community members rally outside PUSD headquarters holding signs reading "Fewer schools = fewer opportunities" and "No school closures." Marshall Secondary School, Blair High School, and Altadena Arts Magnet are among the schools under active closure consideration. The board majority continues to support the process.

Records Request Targets Law Firm–TSS Connection

Bleeker files CPRA 26-086, specifically requesting all communications between Orbach, Huff & Henderson (PUSD's law firm) and Total School Solutions, and all documents related to TSS and specifically to TSS Executive Vice President Joseph Pandolfo.

TSS Holds Virtual Town Hall

Total School Solutions presents to the community in Spanish and English. The presentation shows PUSD has lost 3,950 students — 23% since 2015. The SCAC committee process is presented as an open, data-driven review. The private coordination behind it is not mentioned.

Parent Files Records Requests

Gerrit Bleeker, a PUSD parent, files California Public Records Act request 26-083, seeking all communications between Harden, Kenne, and Velázquez about consolidation and Resolution 2852. He files a follow-up on March 25. The documents that emerge will become the basis for public accountability.

Harden Uses AI to Research High School Consolidations; Finds No Success Stories

Harden researches California high school consolidations using AI tools including Claude. He texts Kenne: "It's amazing how few high school consolidations in California. Hard to find success stories of any kind. More common to find high school mergers in the southeast." He concludes that "high school mergers almost always happen when school districts merge rather than within districts." Gladstone High School in Azusa is identified as the most recent California example.

TSS Survey Closes: 65% "Support" Built on a Conditional

The TSS-designed community survey closes with 2,384 responses. TSS packages results showing "65% support" school mergers but the headline number comes from a conditional statement: respondents who said they would support merging if it maintains programs and improves facilities. On every consolidation question, approximately 29–30% of respondents chose a version of "I do not believe this benefit will happen." The survey never asks about specific school closures and never names Thurgood Marshall, Blair, or San Rafael. Thurgood Marshall respondents (412) outnumber every other school in the district. The survey PDF is authored by "TSSAdmin" — Total School Solutions, the same firm that designed the questions.

Town Hall Announced With Two Days' Notice During Business Hours

PUSD announces a virtual town hall on the consolidation process with two days' notice, scheduled during traditional work hours. A parent writes to Hall Lee and Harden: "It feels as if the district is designing these opportunities for minimal participation availability." Harden responds that he is "advocating" for better timing while his own texts show him privately plotting specific school closures.

Parent Identifies TSS Survey as Biased

A PUSD parent emails all seven board members documenting that the TSS-designed consolidation survey is structured to produce a predetermined outcome: Questions 7–11 repeat the same pro-merger framing, and the final question presents consolidation positively while alternatives are framed negatively. "It feels like I'm being forced towards one answer."

Kenne Anticipates Public Records Request; Harden Warns Her

The CPRA requests that produce these records are filed approximately four weeks later, in late March 2026.

SCAC Desired Outcomes Approved 5 to 2

The board votes 5–2 to formally authorize the Superintendent's School Consolidation Advisory Committee (SCAC) desired outcomes. YES: Fredericks, Harden, Kenne, Marshall McKenzie, Richardson Bailey. NO: Hall Lee, Velázquez.

"We Tricked Her Into Voting for the Resolution"

In a text message, Harden writes: "I'm plotting to close San Raf because I think locating schools where kids live is important and we tricked her into voting for the resolution so we could make changes to it after the fact." San Rafael Elementary had not been named in any public consolidation materials at this time.

300+ Rally at Pasadena City Hall to Save Schools

More than 300 parents, students, educators, and community members rally outside Pasadena City Hall ahead of the March 15 preliminary layoff notice deadline and March 16 fiscal plan submission to LACOE. The rally is organized by United Teachers of Pasadena (UTP) and draws support from U.S. Representative Judy Chu and CA Assemblymember Mike Fong while the board majority continues the consolidation process.

TSS Contract Approved 5 to 2

The board votes 5–2 to retain Total School Solutions as the consolidation consultant. YES: Harden, Velázquez, Fredericks, Kenne, Marshall McKenzie. NO: Hall Lee, Richardson Bailey.

TSS Formally Contracted After Months of Private Talks

Total School Solutions is approved as the consolidation consultant. Documents show contact between Ahad and Fredericks began at least a month before the formal contract vote.

Marshall Families Already Emailing About Closure Fears

Text messages show Harden being alerted that Thurgood Marshall High School families had already begun contacting the district with closure concerns months before the community was officially told Marshall was under consideration.

Resolution 2852 Passes 4 to 3

The board votes 4–3 to adopt Resolution 2852, "Establishing Optimal School Sizes" — the resolution that formally authorizes a school consolidation process. YES: Fredericks, Harden (moved), Velázquez (seconded), Kenne. NO: Hall Lee, Richardson Bailey, Marshall McKenzie.

Harden Coordinates Amendment Language with Fredericks Before the Vote

On the morning of the public board vote, Harden texts Kenne: "Just talked to Tina. She seems ok with my 3 amendments as a friendly for a first pass." The three amendments, negotiated privately before the meeting, are introduced during the public session. Resolution 2852 passes 4–3 that evening.

TSS President Emails Fredericks

TSS President Tahir Ahad — not yet formally contracted — emails Fredericks: "I think it would be best to not mention our discussions to the superintendent and let her own the process." He recommends she use "School Reconfiguration" and "School Optimization" rather than "closures."

Fredericks Forwards Blanco's Memo to Harden Night Before TSS Meeting

The night before a scheduled TSS meeting, Fredericks forwards Blanco's AB 1912 memo to Harden, writing: "If you want to know what Dr. Blanco is thinking about school consolidation, she lays it out plainly in the attachments." She adds that Blanco "is good at following rules" and will follow AB 1912 — framing the superintendent as a predictable variable, not a decision-maker.

In the same email, Fredericks reveals that TSS was referred to her by someone named "Mr. Dunning", connected to PUSD, not LACOE as Fredericks' framing might suggest.

Fredericks Adds Harden to TSS Meeting; Acknowledges Brown Act Limit

Fredericks emails TSS adding Harden to the December 1 meeting. She writes:

She also schedules the meeting to precede her December 3 conversation with the superintendent about the agenda: "I will likely be discussing the agenda with the Superintendent on the morning of Wed. Dec 3, 2025. If we can firm up the drafts by then, that would be ideal."

TSS Sends Fredericks and Velázquez Sample Equity Impact Analysis from Another District

Pandolfo emails Fredericks and Velázquez a sample Equity Impact Analysis TSS prepared for Inglewood USD in 2024–25, explaining how the public comment and finalization process works. TSS has not yet been formally contracted by PUSD.

TSS Advises Fredericks to Route Communications Through Attorney to Shield from Public Records; Sends Draft Board Resolution

At 5:17 AM, Fredericks emails TSS asking about "friendlier" language for the consolidation process, noting Hacienda La Puente called theirs a "Reconfiguration." TSS Executive Vice President Joseph Pandolfo responds at 5:30 AM:

Later that day, TSS President Tahir Ahad sends Fredericks a draft board resolution, "Pasadena Board item.docx", with the note "Please review and modify as needed." He also suggests titling the board action item "Enrollment Projections & Facilities Use Analysis" to obscure its scope.

Superintendent Sends Privileged AB 1912 Memo to District Counsel

Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco sends a memo marked "Conf Memo/Attorney Client Privilege: AB 1912" to Sarine Abrahamian, an attorney at Orbach, Huff & Henderson — PUSD's law firm. The memo lays out the district's legal obligations under AB 1912 for any school closure process.

Board Retreat: Optimal School Sizes Resolution Distributed

Materials for the November 6 Board Retreat include a draft "Optimal Size Resolution," AB 1912 requirements, a state letter on school closures, and CSBA self-evaluation results. The resolution framework that will later authorize the consolidation process is already being circulated.

Fredericks Shares Secret Deck with Velázquez

Fredericks emails the "Consolidation 2027" presentation to board member Dr. Yarma Velázquez, describing it as "not intended for the public but as a visual aid."

Harden and Kenne Both Separately Meeting with Superintendent Blanco About Closures

Harden texts Kenne: "Just had a pretty frank and productive conversation with Liz about closures." Kenne responds: "I had a frustrating one just two hours ago!" Both board members are privately meeting with the superintendent about school closures outside any public meeting or agenda item.

Kenne to Harden: "How Do We Stop This Runaway Train?"

Kenne texts Harden about a new meeting Fredericks has called:

Harden and Kenne Discuss Timing of Resolution; Kenne Links It to Fredericks' Presidency

After receiving the forwarded exchange, Harden emails Kenne: "What is the timing of introducing a resolution to direct Liz to develop a consolidation plan?" Kenne responds: "I had wanted sooner than later – I think not until Dec? Or January? Not sure if Tina wants to try to get it approved until she is president maybe?" Fredericks is installed as board president on December 8, 2025. Resolution 2852 passes December 11.

Later that same evening, Harden reveals he already knows Fredericks has a plan with specific schools identified, two months before any public process:

Kenne replies: "I totally agree!!" The plan Harden describes — specific schools, already identified — matches the "Consolidation 2027" presentation Fredericks had been building since the fall.

Kenne Responds Then Forwards to Harden

Kenne sends Fredericks board meeting data on school site costs and principal salaries. She then forwards the entire exchange to Scott Harden with the note: "FYI A Tina request and my response."

Fredericks Emails Kenne: "Which Positions Would Be Duplicative?"

On a Friday night, Fredericks emails District 1 Trustee Kimberly Kenne: "Can you send me the documentation from previous consolidations which would show examples of which positions would be duplicative? Can you send those by Monday please?" No public process exists yet. TSS has not been hired.

LACOE Warns of $149M Deficit; Fredericks Starts Private Zoom Calls with County Official

Octavio Castelo, Director of Business Advisory Services at the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), formally warns PUSD of a $149.4 million three-year deficit — a "tough if not impossible financial conundrum." LACOE sets December 15, 2025 as a critical deadline and threatens county intervention or state trustee takeover if PUSD fails to demonstrate action.

After the public board presentation, a text message sent to Harden on October 21 reports that Fredericks had been privately meeting with LACOE officials: "Tina said she has been 'stalking' the LACOE guys who came to our meeting (her word!). She has spoken to Octavio more than once it sounds like and had a zoom call with them!! Topic — her plans for consolidation. They said that we would be pleasantly surprised about the plans of our staff." These private discussions happened outside any public meeting, without public notice.

Consolidation 2027 Presentation Prepared

Board President Tina Fredericks prepares a "Consolidation 2027" presentation before any public process is announced, before TSS is hired, and before any community input. She later describes it as "not intended for the public."