Joint Message PUSD & City
November 14, 2024
Joint Message from the Pasadena Unified School District and the City of Pasadena
November 14, 2024
As partners united in service to our community, the Pasadena Unified School District, the City of Pasadena, and the Pasadena Police Department are committed to maintaining safe and welcoming spaces for everyone.
We recognize that the recent election and some of the intense rhetoric surrounding it may be impacting individuals in our community. It’s important to reaffirm our shared commitment to safety and respect for all, regardless of race, immigration status, identity, or circumstance.
Pasadena Unified schools are safe and protected spaces, with federal and state laws in place, along with long-standing policies and practices that ensure that our campuses are safe and welcoming places regardless of the immigration status or citizenship of our students and their families. We want to assure you that vital services such as school meal programs, teaching and learning, and arts, enrichment, and athletic programs continue uninterrupted and that our priority is the well-being and safety of all students. Support is available for students who may be feeling increased anxiety during this time, and we ask that you contact your school’s wellness center or mental health professionals if you have any concerns. The Los Angeles County Office of Education has also compiled resources that can be found here.
The City of Pasadena is mindful of the need to ensure that residents should be able to call on essential City services without fear arising from their identity or status. The City of Pasadena adopted a policy in March 2017 that states that City employees must maintain the confidentiality of resident’s personal information (especially regarding immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, and ethnicity), provide services without discrimination, and are prohibited from assisting in federal immigration enforcement unless legally required.
Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of students and employees in our schools, our residents and neighbors, workers, and visitors. We appreciate the respect, kindness, and sensitivity that so many of you are demonstrating to help us maintain a safe and supportive environment for children in our schools and everyone in our community.
We encourage members of our community to reach out with any concerns.
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