Pasadena Unified official put on leave amid apparent bond probe

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The Pasadena Unified School District has placed its top facilities manager on leave and has suspended or terminated five consultant contracts in the wake of an apparent inquiry into the handling of the district’s $350-million Measure TT school construction bond.

School District Chief Facilities Officer David Azcárraga was placed on leave Wednesday, said school district spokesman Adam Wolfson.

School board members met for a closed session meeting Tuesday. Several board members declined to comment or did not return calls.

Jon Fuhrman, chair of the Measure TT Citizen Oversight Committee, told the Pasadena Sun he was not aware of any investigation or other district action involving Azcárraga, Brown and the others.

School District Chief Finance Officer John Pappalardo has temporarily assumed role of chief facilities officer, Wolfson said.

Measure TT was approved by voters in 2008. Bond-funded projects currently under construction include a new family center and student drop-off area at Madison, electrical upgrades at Marshall, auditorium modernization at Webster, and a new classroom building and faculty parking area at Cleveland Elementary School, according to the Measure TT site.

In addition to placing Azcárraga on leave, the district also suspended its contract with bond manager Robin Brown, a consultant who oversees all Measure TT contracts and projects, Wolfson said. Brown was being paid up to $312,000 a year at a rate of $150 an hour, according to district documents.

Officials additionally terminated contracts with two other people and two companies also overseeing bond funds, said Wolfson.

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