Recall Scott Harden
"I'm plotting to close San Raf because I think locating schools where kids live is important and we tricked her into voting for the resolution so we could make changes to it after the fact."
"It's amazing how few high school consolidations in California. Hard to find success stories of any kind. More common to find high school mergers in the southeast."
"Careful what you type!"
On December 11, 2025, Harden moved Resolution 2852 at a public meeting. That same morning, he texted Kenne confirming he had pre-negotiated the amendments privately with Fredericks. He wrote: "Just talked to Tina. She seems ok with my 3 amendments as a friendly for a first pass."
In March 2026, Harden used AI to research California high school consolidations and texted Kenne it was "hard to find success stories of any kind." That same month, he was publicly telling Marshall families the school was fine at a PTSA meeting.
On February 27, 2026, when Kenne predicted a records request on their texts, Harden's response was to warn her to watch what she wrote — not to stop. The records came four weeks later and documented the full scope of private coordination.
PUSD's Legal Justification for Closing Schools Doesn't Hold Up
The EIA projects $4.6M in annual savings from closing Blair and Marshall. When asked for the basis, TSS cited "professional experience." No underlying data, no methodology, no source.
Moving Blair and Marshall students to schools miles away will require new bus routes. The EIA excluded all transportation costs as "too uncertain to estimate" — while locking in the savings.
Pasadena High and John Muir don't have capacity for the incoming students. The EIA used outdated capacity figures and acknowledged the deficit — then recommended the closures anyway.
Marshall (3.54% FCI) and Blair (6.52%) have lower facility repair costs than Pasadena High (7.22%) and John Muir (9.58%). The district is closing its better-maintained campuses.
The School Community Advisory Committee — the body convened specifically to review the EIA — voted unanimously to reject the report's findings. The board moved forward anyway.
PUSD's LACOE-required Fiscal Stabilization Plan lists 13 items totaling $83.1M in savings. Closing schools is not one of them. The board added closures on top — without updating the plan.
A Formal Brown Act Demand Has Been Sent to PUSD
A Cure and Correct Letter under California Government Code § 54960.1 was delivered to the PUSD Board demanding they immediately suspend Resolution 2852 and all related school closure processes. Harden is named by name. They have 30 days to comply, or face litigation.
"Board President Fredericks and Board Members Harden, Velázquez, and Kenne are engaging in unlawful, private deliberations in the form of serial communications in violation of the Brown Act."
"Immediately suspend its ongoing District Transformation Planning Process, suspend its ongoing Equity Impact Analysis, suspend any decision to vote to close schools... Board Resolution 2852 must be rescinded."
"If you fail to cure or correct as demanded, such inaction will lead to litigation and judicial invalidation of the challenged actions pursuant to Section 54960.1."
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