Blair's own Rene Rodriguez and his 9th grade honors students will appear tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17th, on the KTLA Morning News (channel 5) between 7am and 8am. The segment is titled "Do You Know More Than Your Teacher?"

NOTE: Don't miss the promo teaser at 6:40am for those of you who are early birds!

March 10, 2009

Dear PUSD Community Member:

In this environment of economic uncertainty, the Board of Education and I are committed to keeping our employees, families and community members informed about the financial position of the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and our efforts to balance the budget, preserve our focus on student achievement and accelerate academic and organizational improvement.

Math, Science and Special Education Teachers Sought; Non-Teaching Positions Open

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), in partnership with the City of Pasadena, will host a job fair on Saturday, March 7 at Pasadena’s City Hall. The District is seeking Math, Science and Speech and Language teachers to be part of the team that is raising achievement at Pasadena-area public schools. PUSD is also recruiting for non-teaching positions such as office and maintenance workers.

February 25, 2009

Dear Parents and Community Members,

As we approach the last quarter of the school year, I would like to provide an update on the implementation and progress of the Excellent Middle Schools program approved by the Board of Education last year. The Excellent Middle Schools program represents PUSD’s focus on reforming middle schools to ensure a high-quality, equitable educational experience for sixth through eighth grade students throughout PUSD. Many of you are familiar with this plan, as you participated in a series of community forums that improved the plan’s focus on parent involvement and participation at the school site level.

Civil Litigation Will Target Yzaguirre, Kingsbury and Peterson

Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) officials today announced their intent to file a civil lawsuit against Jessie Yzaguirre, Mark Kingsbury and Eric Peterson for involvement in fraudulent activities related to the expenditure of Measure Y school facilities bond funds. The Board of Education elected to pursue civil litigation after the District Attorney’s office upheld its decision to forgo criminal prosecution. In December, Superintendent Edwin Diaz requested that the District Attorney reexamine evidence collected by an independent investigator hired by PUSD, which implicated the three individuals’ involvement in fraudulent activity.

Kindergarten and 1st Grade English/Spanish and English/Mandarin Classes Start September 2009

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD will hold informational meetings about its new English/Spanish and English/Mandarin dual language immersion program that begins in September 2009. English speakers and English learners receive instruction in English and a target language in the same classroom. The language of instruction alternates during the school day to encourage fluency in both languages.

Teams of Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) third to eighth graders will compete in the annual African American History Bee, cosponsored by PUSD and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Gamma Lambda Chapter.

Teams of students will answer questions about the historical accomplishments and contributions of African Americans. Some sample questions include:

Q. Who was the first African American to walk in space?
A. Bernard A. Harris Jr., M.D.

Q. Whose assassination helped to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
A. Civil rights leader Medgar Evers

First, second and third prizes will be awarded at the event.

What: African American History Bee
When: Thursday, February 26, 2009, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Eliot Middle School, 2184 N. Lake Ave., Altadena

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education announced today that Rose City High School has earned accreditation for grades 10-12 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) for the first time in the school’s history. The three-year accreditation acknowledges the quality of Rose City’s educational program and affirms that the school has met rigorous, research-based standards for student learning and school performance. Rose City High School offers alternative education strategies for students who struggle in traditional high school settings.

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education announced that it has initiated the selection process for the Citizens’ Oversight Committee, responsible for monitoring project management and expenditures for the $350 million local school facilities bond passed by voters in November.

"The Citizens’ Oversight Committee members will play a critical role in ensuring fiscal accountability and transparency to the public about progress on construction projects undertaken with Measure TT funds. Accordingly, we will appoint only the most highly-qualified individuals to fulfill this important role,” said Superintendent Edwin Diaz. “The Board of Education and I will work closely with the Committee to ensure that projects are completed as planned, within budget, and in accordance with the law."

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) announced that David Miller, music teacher at Pasadena High School since 1986, will receive this year's California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Southern Section Outstanding Music Educator Award in the field of high school instrumental music.