School Board Approves Contract for Security Guard and Patrol Services for District Facilities

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education approved the $500,624 contract with Citiguard, Inc. to provide security patrol and gaggle monitoring services for the District, outside of school hours.

Six board members voted in favor of the contract. Tina Fredericks voted against it. 

The service will be provided by Citiguard Inc. to PUSD from December 1, 2023 through Nov. 30, 2024. 

According to staff, through the contract, Citiguard Inc. will provide enhanced coverage next summer and during next year’s back-to-school activities. 

“The services provided to PUSD provide responsive and interactive opportunities to support our students and families, secure our campuses and provide effective communications to all parties involved,” staff stated in its report. 

Fredericks called the approval of the contract fiscally irresponsible.

“Unlike other contracts, this contract pays a lump sum for potential services rendered without guarantee that those services will be rendered which means all of this hourly rate could double or triple the contract amount.”

“Why can we not find a contract where we pay an invoice monthly based on actual usage?” 

Fredericks said half of the money for the contract could be better spent in hiring mental health and intervention professionals for sites that don’t have them. 

“Security for children and staff of our school is of utmost importance. The contract such as this is evidence that we are not thinking deeply enough on how to ensure that security,” added Fredericks. 

Assistant Superintendent Julie Reynoso said the cost has increased due to the nature of safety the District officials want for students and staff which is “patrolling all of our programs, children centers, District service center, our ed center and all of our sites.”

Reynoso said the officers will be armed if they are patrolling after school hours on the weekends and at night. 

“If in some case, we had an event and none of our District security officers were available, we will ask them to come but they will be unarmed,” Reynoso added. 

The contract with Citiguard Inc. may be renewed for up to two one-year extensions upon mutual written consent of the District and the contractor.