election, Pledges to Tackle District Budget Deficit – Pasadena Now
Pasadena Unified School District Board Member Tina Wu Fredericks secured a second term representing District 6, capturing 5,977 votes (62.01%) in a race to oversee District operations amid significant financial challenges.
Fredericks, the only Pasadena Unified School District Board member with K-12 teaching experience across elementary, middle and high school levels, defeated challenger Lisa Kroese, who received 3,662 votes (37.99%) in the race to represent an area including Hastings Ranch, East Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
"First and foremost I want to thank the voters in my trustee area for giving me the privilege and opportunity to serve over 14,000 students of Pasadena Unified School District for a second term," Fredericks said in her post-election remarks to media.
The Board Clerk and Facilities Committee Chair identified the District's projected $23 million budget deficit as her primary concern.
"I want to ensure that the District exhausts every avenue for generating revenue through updating and leasing our property and that staffing cuts are made away from the classroom, especially in the area of special education," she said.
Fredericks, who currently serves as President of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association, outlined plans for two recently approved measures.
"Given that Measure EE passes, I will be advocating for a portion of Measure EE funds go towards retaining teachers and staff," she said. "Given that Measure R passes, our community deserves to have their hard earned Measure R tax dollars spent responsibly and efficiently."
She emphasized growing support from residents without children in the District. "They, too, understand how public education is important to the well-being of our community and our future," she said. "Let's take this opportunity bring them into the conversation of reimagining our schools as integral parts of the community that we want to see, which includes expansion of more outdoor green spaces where children learn and play."
Fredericks, endorsed by United Teachers of Pasadena, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Senator Anthony Portantino, concluded optimistically. "I am optimistic and looking forward to exploring new opportunities with a new school Board," she said.
