Pasadena Unified to Discuss School Reopening Plan, Online Learning Contract, Superintendent Emergency Powers at Thursday Meeting

The Pasadena Unified School District is weighing a series of issues including a $4 million contract for online distance learning for the coming school year and returning emergency powers to Superintendent Brian McDonald at their Thursday afternoon meeting.

The PUSD Board of Education will also receive a presentation on the district’s newly released reopening protocols, designed to guide the cautious reopening of campuses once safety and public officials permit.

McDonald was granted emergency powers by the Board in March, on the eve of the announcement that all schools in the districts were closed. But the power was rescinded by the Board in May.

With the virus resurging and the start of the school year on Aug. 17 just weeks away, the Board was slated to consider returning emergency powers to the superintendent.

Among the authorities enumerated in the emergency resolution resolution include authorizing the superintendent or his designee to  “take any and all actions necessary to ensure the continuation of public education, and the health and safety of the students and staff at the district sites including but not limited to: the relocation of students and staff, continued daily student transportation, provision of alternative educational program options, directing staff to serve as disaster service workers make alterations, repairs or improvements to school property.”

The proposed distance learning contract calls for a $4 million agreement with Arizona State University Prep Digital to provide distance learning resources for the 2020-2021 school year.

“They’ve long been a leader in online college, but they have a K-12 part of their online curriculum development team, and so our staff feels like that would be the best content to subscribe to, to pay for, for this coming year,” PUSD Board Member Scott Phelps said.

Board members were also expected to receive a report on the district’s reopening protocols, released early this week.

Another resolution before the board would support a ballot initiative via a city charter amendment on the November ballot allowing all parents in the district to vote in elections, regardless of immigration status.

The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Elbie J. Hickambottom Board Room,  351 South Hudson Ave.