2025-05-18 Soil Testing Results

May 18, 2025

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Dear PUSD Community,

In times like these, when questions about safety and trust are front and center, clear communication and decisive action matter more than ever. That’s why I want to take a moment – as your Superintendent, and as a fellow parent and community member – to address the concerns many of you have raised following the Eaton Fire and the environmental impact it may have had on our schools.

Your concerns have been heard, and they are guiding our work every step of the way.

We have completed soil testing at all PUSD school sites and released the first round of results last week. While results for heavy metals like lead are now available, some test results are still pending. Campus maps will continue to be updated as new data comes in. All current results, maps, and frequently asked questions are available at: pusd.us/firerelief-safety.

The good news is that many of our schools have been fully cleared. Soil samples from these campuses showed no elevated levels of harmful fire-related substances, and outdoor spaces at these schools have reopened for regular school community use.

At other schools, however, some soil samples did show elevated levels of certain substances in specific outdoor areas. We’re taking this very seriously.

The district is working closely with local and state health and environmental agencies – including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Pasadena Public Health Department – to review soil test results and, if needed, develop science-based remediation plans that prioritize the health and safety of our students and employees.

To help our community better understand the findings and the level of risk, Dr. Parveen Kaur, Acting Health Officer at the Pasadena Public Health Department, offered the following perspective:

“While some PUSD soil test samples exceeded California state lead screening levels, most were at levels where the risk to human health is minimal, especially when public health safety precautions are followed. In areas that exceeded the screening level, common sense measures such as restricting access and adding ground cover will reduce potential risk of exposure.”

This guidance highlights the importance of following safety protocols as we move forward. To that end, we have restricted access to areas on campuses with impacted soil. We ask our community not to disturb the soil at any of our campuses, even with well-intentioned actions like covering it with mulch or compost. Such actions could interfere with follow-up testing, delay necessary remediation, and complicate our goal of restoring safe access to these areas.

We’re moving with urgency, and also with care. Here’s what you can expect:

• Outdoor areas with impacted soil will remain closed until investigation and any necessary remediation is completed. These areas will be clearly marked and secured to prevent access.
  

• Any necessary remediation will be completed before the new school year starts.

• Additional testing and monitoring will take place both before and during the necessary remediation process to ensure safety.
  

• Affected schools will receive updates as new information becomes available. You can find all updates at pusd.us/firerelief-safety.

We know how important outdoor spaces are to our students for play, for connection, and for learning. And we know how unsettling it can feel when those spaces are in question. Please know we are doing everything possible to ensure a safe, timely, and transparent process.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us. Your care, your questions, and your partnership remind us every day what it means to be a community.

Together, we will ensure that every PUSD campus is safe, supported, and ready for our students to learn, grow and thrive.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Blanco, Ed.D. Superintendent