Parent Groups Sponsor School Board Candidate Forum

For the first time, six parent/caregiver engagement groups hosted a Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education candidate forum on Monday, October 10 at the PUSD Education Center. Sponsored by the Pasadena Education Network (PEN), the PTA Council of PUSD, African American Parent Council, District Language Advisory Committee, Foster Youth Council, and the Community Advisory Committee for Special Ed, the forum was also livestreamed via Zoom thanks to Pasadena Media. 

Moderated by the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area, candidates had an opportunity to introduce themselves and respond to written questions from the audience as well as pre-set questions. 

From 5 pm – 6:30 pm, candidates vying for District 1 Kim Kenne and Billy Malone, and District 3 Pat Amsbry participated. Unfortunately, Michelle Richardson Bailey was unable to participate due to a death in her family, but the moderator read her statement. View the forum here.  District 5 candidates Patrice Marshall McKenzie and Xillian Stammer, and District 7 candidates Juan Pablo Alban and Yarma Velazquez participated from 7 pm – 8:30 pm. View the forum here.

“Whether voters have children in the Pasadena Unified School District or not, this election impacts all of us,” said the parent groups in a joint statement.  “Elections matter, and that starts at the local level.  We have a civic responsibility to ensure that our community and our schools provide every child with an opportunity to reach their full potential.”