The Pasadena Unified School District on Tuesday said several campuses will open for the start of classes next week, but outdoor areas at multiple schools will remain under remediation or restoration after a summer project to remove soil contaminated following the Eaton fire.
Limited reopening but visible restrictions remain
In a statement released Tuesday, the district said it has made "significant progress," but cautioned that not all work will be complete when school opens Monday, Aug. 17. The ongoing effort has been marked by public pushback over the removal of trees rooted in tainted soil and a dispute with the city over enforcement of tree-protection rules.
"We have made significant progress, but some campuses will still have outdoor areas under remediation or restoration when school begins."
The district provided a matrix summarizing the work that remains at specific campuses. For some schools, that means fenced-off excavation areas or closed courtyards; for others, work will continue into the fall or be deferred until next summer.
- Blair High School — Soil remediation and tree removal remain to be completed. The campus will be open but will have marked excavation areas fenced off. Work is scheduled to resume in the summer of 2027.
- Education Center — Similar to Blair, remediation and tree removal are incomplete and fenced excavation areas will remain closed.
- John Muir High School — Some soil removal and tree work are finished, but the center courtyard and planters around Building A will remain closed; work is deferred to later in the school year.
- Cleveland Elementary School — Impacted soil has been removed; the site will be filled with clean soil in the coming days.
- San Rafael Elementary School — Soil removal is ongoing and the field will remain closed during landscape restoration while the district consults with state officials about areas that can be reopened.
- Octavia E. Butler Magnet — Restoration will continue over the coming months.
- Field Elementary — Most soil-removal work is finished, but some tasks remain.
Local controversy over trees and city oversight
Throughout the summer the district warned that community pushback against removing trees rooted in contaminated soil could delay reopening outdoor areas. The city of Pasadena attempted to issue stop-work orders to enforce its tree protection ordinance, but a recent judicial ruling has limited the city's enforcement at PUSD sites, further complicating the schedule and the public debate.
The dispute has drawn attention from local tree advocates and conservationists, who held a vigil this week to protest tree removals tied to the cleanup. District officials have said the work is necessary to address contamination discovered after the Eaton fire and to ensure campuses meet state health and safety standards.
| Campus | Status as of Aug. 11 | Expected next steps |
|---|---|---|
| Blair High School | Open with fenced excavation areas | Remediation/tree removal to resume summer 2027 |
| Education Center | Open with fenced excavation areas | Remediation/tree removal pending |
| John Muir High School | Open; courtyard and planters closed | Work deferred to later this school year |
| Cleveland Elementary | Impacted soil removed | Site to be filled with clean soil days away |
| San Rafael Elementary | Soil removal ongoing; field closed | Restoration and state consultation to continue |
| Octavia E. Butler Magnet | Restoration ongoing | Restoration over coming months |
| Field Elementary | Most soil removal complete | Remaining tasks underway |
Parents and staff will see visible signs of the remediation work at affected campuses, including fenced-off excavation areas and sections of fields or courtyards closed to students and the public. The district said it will continue to coordinate with state officials on restoration and reopening decisions.
As the school year begins, district leaders face the dual task of completing environmental remediation and managing community concern over tree removals and local oversight. For now, Pasadena families can expect most campuses to be open on Aug. 17, but with continuing restoration work that will affect outdoor spaces for weeks to months in some locations.
