LEARN ABOUT MEASURES R AND EE
Frequently Asked Questions
MEASURE R
WHAT IS MEASURE R? Measure R is a general obligation (GO) bond measure on the November 5, 2024, Presidential Election ballot. If approved by 55% of votes cast, Measure R will authorize $900 million to make renovations and improve schools and classrooms throughout the Pasadena Unified School District. In addition, Measure R will allow the district to qualify for state matching funds.
WHAT IS A GO BOND? California school districts commonly use GO bonds to fund improvement projects, such as constructing and renovating classrooms. Similar to a home loan, GO bonds are repaid over time. Funds to repay the bonds come from a tax on all taxable property—residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural—located within the district.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN MEASURE R? Repairing or replacing leaky roofs and plumbing Repairing or replacing inefficient electrical, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems Replacing deteriorating portable classrooms Expanding coding, robotics, engineering, health sciences, creative arts and computer science programs Expanding counseling, mental health programs and special education facilities for students Creating greater accessibility to classrooms, restrooms, playgrounds and walkways in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Providing shade structures and adding trees to outdoor areas to protect students from the heat Building below-market rental housing in order to retain and hire qualified teachers and staff Updating classroom technology, wireless networks and infrastructure Expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) classrooms and labs Modernizing classrooms for career and technical education programs to prepare students for college and future careers
HOW MUCH WILL MEASURE R COST? Measure R‘s estimated average annual tax rate is less than $59 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. Assessed valuation should not be confused with market value. The assessed valuation is the value placed on property by Los Angeles County and is typically lower than market value.
WHAT TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE? Measure R ensures that there will be full public disclosure of all spending. An independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee must review and report on all bond fund expenditures, and a third-party auditor must audit all bond fund expenditures. Measure R includes a specific list of projects on which bond funds may be spent. Laws prohibit funds from being used for administrators’ salaries, pensions, or benefits. Measure R bond funds must be spent on Pasadena Unified School District’s projects and cannot be taken by the state.
MEASURE EE
WHAT IS MEASURE EE? Measure EE is a parcel tax on the November 5, 2024, Presidential Election ballot. If approved by at least two-thirds of the votes cast, it will raise approximately $5 million annually for eight years. Levied on a flat per-parcel basis, parcel taxes are used to fund educational programs and services and to support teachers and staff.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN MEASURE EE? Expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) classes and programs Expanding career and technical education programs and classes Providing mental health and behavioral support resources and facilities Increasing wages for teachers and staff
HOW MUCH WILL MEASURE EE COST? Measure EE‘s annual parcel tax is $90 per parcel for eight years. Funds come from a fixed tax on all parcels—residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial—located within the District.
IS THERE AN EXEMPTION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS? Yes, seniors (age 65 and older) can apply for an exemption for their residences.
WHAT TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE? Measure EE ensures that there will be full public disclosure of all spending. A third-party auditor will audit all expenditures. Measure EE includes a specific list of programs on which funds may be spent. Funds must be spent on Pasadena Unified School District’s programs and cannot be taken by the state.
GENERAL
WHAT IS THE PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT? The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) enrolls more than 14,000 students in Transitional Kindergarten-12th grade in a 76-square mile area that includes Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. PUSD schools offer a wide variety of educational options designed to prepare today’s students to be critical thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and strong communicators - the leaders of tomorrow. PUSD graduates are earning admission to competitive colleges across the country. Vibrant academics, exceptional teachers, and supportive school communities that nurture the whole child are the hallmarks of the PUSD. Academic programs include: • Dual Language Immersion programs in Spanish, Mandarin, and French • Elementary and High School Armenian Academies • Award-winning art and music education programs • International Baccalaureate, offered in elementary, middle, and high schools • Art, STEAM, Dual Language Immersion, and Early College magnet schools • College & Career Academies that prepare students for post-secondary success • Math Academy, an accelerated math curriculum for middle and high school students • Athletics – Student-athletes participate in more than two dozen competitive sports at PUSD high schools. PUSD teams have won CIF divisional championship titles.
PUSD BY THE NUMBERS • Established in 1874 and unified in 1961 • 3 communities – Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre • 23 schools total • 13 elementary schools (grades K-5) • 1 K-8 school • 3 middle schools (grades 6-8) • 2 secondary schools (grades 6 - 12) • 2 high schools (grades 9-12) • 1 continuation high school • 1 alternative education program PUSD also operates: • Early Childhood Education Centers • Transitional Kindergarten • Twilight Adult Education • Adult Living Skills Center • LEARNS - expanded learning opportunities before and after school, sports, and summer. • International Academy at Blair High School
WHY PUSD? Academic Excellence Through College and Career Academies, International Baccalaureate, Dual Language Immersion, and World Language programs, PUSD students become knowledgeable, caring individuals who contribute to a better world through intercultural awareness, understanding, and respect. Creative Development Compelling, standards-based arts instruction in visual arts, music, dance, and drama nurtures PreK-12 students’ abilities in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, fostering artistic and intellectual growth. Holistic Wellbeing At PUSD, students are encouraged to explore, learn, achieve, and grow, with access to support whenever needed. The district prioritizes social, emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing, ensuring mental health professionals are available on every campus. Athletic Achievement Driven by excellence in athletics, from the pool to the field, and the court to the track, PUSD scholar-athletes develop resilience, confidence, sportsmanship, and leadership, along with a strong sense of community. Equity and Inclusion PUSD is committed to cultivating a safe, supportive environment where employees, students, and families can thrive as part of a collective journey toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.
IS THERE A PERCEPTION GAP? Did you know that while around 75% of school-age children attend public schools nationwide, less than 50% do so in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre? This is largely due to a perception gap—a disconnect between the community’s view of PUSD schools and their actual performance. The truth is, PUSD public schools are doing well and getting better, but too many still believe otherwise. Let’s work together to change the narrative and support our schools. The sooner we act, the better the future will be for our students and our entire community.
HOW IS THE DISTRICT PERFORMING IN TERMS OF EDUCATING OUR YOUTH? PUSD schools are doing well and have made significant progress in the last two decades. Our teachers prepare today's students to be critical thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and strong communicators – our children, learning today, leading tomorrow. PUSD graduates are accepted at highly competitive colleges and universities locally, nationally and abroad. For more information, see PUSD Today: 15+ Things You Might Not Know at https://pasedfoundation.org/get-involved/pusd-today/.
WHY SHOULD I VOTE IN FAVOR OF MEASURES R & EE? Education matters to our entire community – to all of us, whether or not we have children or grandchildren in the public schools. Good schools help young people become strong, empowered, and engaged citizens who enrich our community. Good public schools also help ensure an educated workforce, help attract the talented, able people we need to run our businesses, our educational and cultural institutions and our many non-profits, help attract and retain high quality, environmentally friendly employers offering good, well-paying jobs, support the local economy and enhance the quality of life for all of us. Good schools are essential for a strong economy, a vibrant democracy, and a great country. The quality of our schools and their facilities are an important part of our communities’ real estate values—the stronger the schools the stronger our property values. Providing beautiful, well-equipped, technologically advanced schools is an important step in addressing current inequities and providing essential curriculum for all our students. For more information on why our public schools matter, please see https://pasedfoundation.org/resources/why-education-matters/
DON'T FUNDS FROM THE STATE GIVE PUSD ENOUGH TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN ALL THE FACILITIES IT NEEDS? State funding goes entirely and only to the District’s operating costs. Responsibility for funding facilities falls on local communities.
IS COMMUNITY INPUT NEEDED AND WILL IT BE VALUED THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS? Every dollar spent through Measures R and EE will require full public disclosure and be spent under the oversight of an independent citizens’ committee and a third-party auditor. All funds secured through these measures will be well spent. Every dollar spent through Measures R and EE will require full public disclosure and be spent under the oversight of an independent citizens’ committee and a third-party auditor.
I’M CONCERNED ABOUT DECLINING ENROLLMENT. Declining enrollment - a long-term trend in much of California – is not caused by under-performing schools but by demographic changes and rising housing costs forcing many families to move to communities with lower housing costs. Declining enrollment has caused the PUSD to close a number of schools in recent years. While upsetting to teachers, staff, students and families involved, these closures allow more efficient use of available resources and improved teaching and learning across the District for all PUSD students. The District is looking carefully for the best disposition or use of its closed school facilities and for a possible disposition of District headquarters.
I’M CONCERNED ABOUT STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES. As research consistently demonstrates, standardized test scores are more reflective of demographic and community factors than of classroom instruction or academic program quality. Variables like socioeconomic status, housing stability, and access to educational resources significantly influence these scores. In the Pasadena Unified School District, many students face unique challenges—some are in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or living with disabilities—each factor shaping the educational experience in ways that are not fully captured by standardized assessments. Our public schools embody authentic, real-world diversity, giving our students a meaningful advantage for the future, and our graduate are regularly accepted at leading colleges and universities across the country
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS? • PEN Families - penfamilies.org - PUSD at a Glance - School Fact Sheets - Talk to a Parent • Pasadena Educational Foundation – pasedfoundation.org - PUSD Today - Our Work • PUSD - pusd.us - PUSD 2028 Strategic Plan
WHAT ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER CLOSELY WITH PUSD? Our public schools and the programs they offer are immensely enriched by the active participation of our community’s many remarkable educational, cultural and other organizations, including these: Altadena Town Council AMAN Dance Educators A Noise Within Armory Center for the Arts ArtCenter College of Design Audubon Society Boston Court Caltech Carnegie Observatories City of Pasadena City of Sierra Madre Collaborate PASadena College Access Plan College Football Playoff Foundation Day One Descanso Gardens Education Through Music-Los Angeles (ETM-LA) Five Acres The Gamble House Hillsides The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens Innovate Pasadena JPL Kidspace Leadership Pasadena Little Kids Rock Lineage Performing Arts Center The Music Center Norton Simon Museum Pacific Oaks Pasadena City College Pasadena Conservatory of Music Pasadena Community Foundation Pasadena Educational Foundation Pasadena-Foothills Association of REALTORS© Pasadena Museum of History Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Symphony and POPS Pasadena Education Network Reading Partners Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Rose Bowl Stadium Side Street Projects STARS (formerly Lake Avenue Community Foundation) Tournament of Roses Association USC Pacific Asia Museum Young & Healthy