By Joe Piasecki
Pasadena Sun
Public school officials said they will protect academic advances even as they warned of a looming financial crisis at the annual State of the Schools address on Friday at Blair Middle School.
Pasadena Board of Education President Renatta Cooper and Supt. Jon Gundry told a crowd of more than 50 parents and educators that cash-strapped public schools will be dealt a heavy blow if voters fail to pass a state tax increase in November.
The school district would face a $5-million cut this school year and would lose $12.8 million next year if both Gov.Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30 and Pasadena attorney Molly Munger’s Proposition 38 fail, officials said.
“There’s no way [to make cuts] without causing a great deal of pain in the district,” said Cooper, who predicted larger class sizes and a shortened school year if voters reject both proposed tax increases.
