PUSD will phase in Burbank reconfiguration; Phase I plan goes to board tonight

Pasadena Unified School District officials are now looking at phasing in new uses for the Burbank Elementary School building, with mental health services moved to the location by the start of the school year.

PUSD staffers held a second public meeting at the school auditorium Monday night, saying that the need is urgent, as the district's mental health services now located at McKinley Elementary will be moved out during that school's remodeling.

According to PUSD's presentation, the mental health services would require administrative offices and therapy or counseling rooms, and would see administrators, itinerant social workers and psychologists, and small group therapy and evaluation sessions for parents and students.

Parking needs for Phase I would be five spaces for staff, ten for itinerant staff, and visitor parking of from 6 to 14 cars up to three times a week.  A monthly staff meeting requires parking for approximately 30 cars.

About 50 people attended Monday night's meeting, where district officials said that they opted to go more slowly than they had previously planned in reconfiguring the now-shuttered Altadena school.  The Phase I changes will go before the board of education for approval tonight.

The second phase of the Burbank reconfiguration would be to expand the Burbank pre-school program from one classroom to two, move the preschool program for special needs students now located at Hodges Children's Center, and move the Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) that is located at the now-closed Loma Alta Elementary School.  According to Tammy Schaeffer, an architecture consultant with the district, these programs would not be ready by the start of school in the fall, but might open after winter break.

The third phase will be moving the professional development programs now located at Edison School.  That will free up space for special education at Edison, but would require more parking spaces -- up to perhaps 100 cars once a month

Parking and traffic were a concern to those attending: the Burbank pre-K program will have two dropoff and two pickup periods per day, for up to 36 children each.  The Hodges program will have 20 regular staff, several who come and go during the week, as well as half a dozen parents who come by each day and another group who come and goes on Thursdays for therapies.

Phase IV is a blue sky idea now, creating an "Academy for Success" where a small group of students who need support academically or behaviorally  can attend for one semester.

PUSD's chief facilities officer David Azcarraga said that the district would come back to the community for input before each phase.