Message #8, sent January 17; 11:00 a.m.
Dear SPUSD Parents/Guardians,
It is hard to believe how many things change in a week or even just a matter of a couple days or a few hours. As we look back, we’re grateful to report that our return to school has been smooth, and our students are joyfully resuming their normal routines.
We want to express our gratitude and acknowledge the SPUSD maintenance and custodial staff who work around the clock cleaning our facilities and campuses. Since the wildfires began, they have cleaned indoor and outdoor surfaces following protocols outlined by the South Coast Air Quality Management District as well as information provided by scientists at Caltech. They have repeatedly cleaned areas that require specific attention and care and will continue to clean affected areas as needed. While the SPUSD custodial and maintenance teams made steady progress over the last nine days, the complementary support provided by parents has helped.
We want to recognize the parent volunteers who have assisted with donations and pitching in to help whenever they are needed. The spirit of community support and unity within this District shines its brightest during challenging times like these. We are so grateful for and impressed by the number of people who offer to help and step up in every way imaginable.
We also are extremely grateful to our labor organizations, CSEA and TASP, for their partnership. Open lines of communication and teamwork have allowed everyone to cohesively come together as we regroup during this time. Our employees have worked through many challenges this past week and have kept a positive and productive outlook with our students and each other every day.
As we move forward, please look for communications from your school principals who will provide the most up-to-date and accurate information about facilities and schedules. Also check Aeries to make sure your child’s health information is up-to-date. If your child has specific needs, please contact your teachers, principals, coaches, and/or counselors.
Thank you again for your continued support. We appreciate the compassionate and resilient South Pasadena community.
Regards,
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Message #7, sent January 13; 4:04 p.m.
Dear SPUSD Parents/Guardians, Faculty & Staff,
We are pleased to report that schools reopened today and students successfully returned to learning and instruction. We all enjoyed seeing the students and their excitement about returning to school.
As we continue to monitor the ongoing fires in Los Angeles, air quality in our area has been steadily improving. That said, we will continue to monitor the air quality daily throughout the week. If air quality is poor, outdoor activities will be limited and indoor options will be available for lunch and recess.
We appreciate your partnership as we navigate these challenges together. We understand that your children may have questions about the fires, so we've attached a guide with age-appropriate tips to help you address their concerns.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school principal or counselor.
Regards,
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Message #6, sent January 12; 10:30 a.m.
Dear SPUSD Parents/Guardians, Faculty & Staff,
We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well during these challenging times. After thoroughly assessing all campuses and the District Office, we are pleased to report that all SPUSD schools and the District Office will reopen on Monday, January 13, 2025.
While reopening is encouraging news, the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area continue to impact air quality throughout our region. The health and safety of our students and employees is our top priority, and we are continuing to closely monitor conditions with guidance from local health authorities and environmental agencies.
Due to air quality concerns, all schools will follow Inclement Weather Schedules, which includes restrictions on outdoor activities. Outdoor activities, including PE, recess, and lunch, will be modified or moved indoors as needed.
In addition, our maintenance and custodial teams are conducting regular inspections to address any hazards caused by high winds. The HVAC system filters–MERV 13 HEPA–are clean (they were disabled during school closures) and will be activated early Monday morning.
Employees within our District have lost their homes or continue to be evacuated from their communities. Faculty and staff will be doing their best to provide as little disruption to instruction and school routines as possible.
Thank you for your understanding, flexibility, and cooperation as we navigate these extraordinary circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your school directly.
Regards,
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Message #5 sent January 11; 10:13 a.m.
Dear SPUSD Parents/Guardians, Faculty & Staff,
While we recognize that many people in our surrounding communities are still experiencing extraordinary challenges, we wanted to let you know that, assuming no dramatic change in the conditions, we expect to return to school on Monday, January 13, 2025. We will contact you tomorrow (Sunday, January 12) with a definitive answer.
Please be prepared for:
- Modified meal menus at all schools
- Inclement weather schedules and activity at the elementary schools
- Indoor Physical Education classes at the middle and high schools
- Updates on high school athletics from the SPHS Athletic Department
- Wearing a mask if you have sensitivity to residual smoke/particulate matter–additional masks will be available at the school sites
School facilities are in good shape. Roof damage has been repaired; MERV 13 HVAC filters are clean; restrooms and classrooms have been cleaned; and grounds have been cleared of debris. Huge thanks to our hard-working maintenance, custodial, and technology teams and our specialized service contractors for helping prepare our schools for a safe return.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding. We will reach out again tomorrow with an update.
Regards,
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Message #4 sent January 9; 9:45 a.m.
Dear SPUSD Parents/Guardians, Faculty & Staff,
All SPUSD schools and the District Office will remain closed on January 10, 2025.
Keeping the safety of our students and employees as our top priority, SPUSD has determined that the best course of action is to keep schools closed on Friday, January 10.
We expect to reopen schools on Monday, January 13, after assessing conditions including air quality, fire containment, and secure facilities.
Please stay safe, and we will contact you Sunday, January 12 about a return to school on Monday.
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Message #3 sent January 8, 2025; 3:00 p.m.
Dear SPUSD Parents/Guardians, Faculty & Staff,
We are thinking of you all and the dire challenges that you, your families, and loved ones are facing. A significant percentage of our employees and neighbors are under evacuation orders, evacuation warnings, or have lost their homes. Our hearts go out to everyone who has experienced hardships.
After careful consideration, all SPUSD schools and the District Office will remain closed on January 9, 2025. This closure includes all classes and before and after school programs and activities. Employees do not need to report to work unless notified by a supervisor.
School closure is necessary due to the impact the winds and fires have had on employees, poor air quality in South Pasadena, and the fact that the nearby fires are not contained. A critical number of employees have been evacuated from fire zones and will be unable to report to work on Thursday, which makes it challenging to safely operate schools. We have been consulting with neighboring districts and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and our neighboring districts and the districts along the foothills will also be closed tomorrow.
We encourage everyone to take necessary precautions during this time:
- Limit outdoor activities, especially for those with respiratory conditions.
- Keep phones/laptops charged in case of power outages.
- Follow local authorities’ instructions and updates regarding evacuation orders and road safety.
Our priority is always the safety of our students and employees. Keeping schools closed is a difficult decision, and we understand the challenges it presents for some families. We believe tomorrow’s school closure is responsible and prudent given the environmental conditions.
We will continue to monitor conditions and provide an update regarding the status of schools for Friday, January 10, as soon as we have more information. Please check your emails/texts and school/district websites for updates.
Stay safe,
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Message #2 sent January 8, 2025; 10:35 a.m.
Dear SPUSD Parents/Guardians, Faculty & Staff,
First off, our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by the devastating fires. We recognize all the challenges and understand that many families, friends, and employees have been displaced from their homes.
At this time, power at all schools and the District office has been restored and there are no reports of fallen or damaged trees or facilities. We appreciate South Pasadena’s first responders and the SPUSD maintenance and technology teams for monitoring and managing the situation with boots on the ground during the last 24 hours. The District’s groundskeeping provider, BrightView, is cleaning up loose vegetation around the schools. Thank you to everyone.
In South Pasadena, wind conditions have improved temporarily, but they are expected to increase again this evening, particularly in the wind prone areas in the foothills and mountains. Air quality is extremely poor and air handling systems at the school sites have been disabled.
We will continue to monitor conditions. This afternoon, we will send another update regarding the opening or closure of school for Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Thank you for your understanding, patience, and support.
Regards,
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Windstorm Message #1 sent January 7, 2025; 9:00 p.m.
SPUSD Parents/Guardians, Faculty & Staff,
Upon consultation with the South Pasadena Police and Fire Departments and Board President Karen Tamis, all schools and the District office will be closed on January 8, 2025. This closure includes all classes and before/after school programs. Employees do not need to report to work unless notified by a supervisor.
SPUSD schools and many areas within South Pasadena do not have power due to the ongoing windstorms and fire activity. Southern California Edison (SCE) does not have an estimate for power restoration. Power outages may continue until tomorrow afternoon or later. Many streets are becoming impassable, sidewalks are hazardous for pedestrians, and District phone lines and email are not operational at this time.
Unless otherwise notified, school will resume on January 9, 2025, after SPUSD, in collaboration with the South Pasadena Police and Fire Departments, has taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff, and facilities.
Please try to stay safe during these uncertain weather and fire-related events.
Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent