PASADENA, Calif. – Cynthia Torres, a school district finance leader and college admissions advisor, is a candidate for the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education, District 7. She is calling for a community-centered “middle path” as the district faces declining enrollment, the end of one-time pandemic funding, rising costs, and the impact of the Eaton Fire. “Pasadena Unified is at an important financial and strategic crossroads,” said Torres. “Our students and families deserve a Board that listens first, makes decisions grounded in sound analysis, and works to build trust across our community.” Torres urges the Board to delay major school consolidation decisions and use the rest of the year to hear from the community about its priorities. The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s positive certification of the PUSD budget, she notes, gives the district time to develop a plan that reflects community values. That work would build on the visioning process the Superintendent has laid out for this year. Top Priorities Financial sustainability: Strengthen long-term budget planning, examine spending and financial assumptions carefully, and protect the district’s ability to sustain essential programs. New revenue streams: Pursue strategic fundraising, corporate and philanthropic partnerships, asset management opportunities, deeper partnerships with Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre, new outside investment, and a focus on student attendance. College and career opportunities: Ensure every PUSD graduate has the academic preparation and guidance to pursue the future they want. “Cynthia Torres brings extensive board experience, innovative revenue-generating ideas, and a unique vision for the district. Her counseling skills can also foster harmony and collegiality,” said Marisa Sarian, Treasurer of the ANCA Pasadena Chapter. Torres brings 11 years of school district finance experience from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, where she served on the Financial Oversight Committee, including as chair, and reviewed a $220 million budget, audits, and capital programs. She led the committee’s focus on revenue generation, which contributed to voter-approved sales and parcel taxes, bond issuances, centralized fundraising, joint use agreements with local municipalities, and millions of dollars in annual city grants. In 2018 to 2019, she served on the PUSD Citizens Oversight Committee, which oversees the district’s bond-funded investments in its schools. A proud Pasadena resident and homeowner, Ms. Torres has lived in Pasadena/Altadena/Sierra Madre for six of the past 10 years and is a native of nearby Eagle Rock, Torres is the founder and president of College Decisions LLC, which has advised students on selective college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships for more than 15 years. She also volunteers as a college counselor with College Match Los Angeles, guiding nine low-income, first-generation students at Lincoln High School through the application process. Her earlier career includes senior roles at Goldman Sachs, First Interstate Bank, and Fidelity Investments, where she managed institutional asset management for Southeast Asia. A past president of the Harvard Alumni Association, she received its Award for Distinguished Service in 2018. She holds a B.A. in Government and an M.B.A. from Harvard. “I am honored to be endorsed by the ANCA – Pasadena Chapter. I have a fundamental perspective as to what it would take to improve and elevate the district and I look forward to take on the challenge the position presents, not least of which, the Armenian Academies at Blair Baccalaureate and Webster Elementary schools,” expressed board of education candidate, Cynthia Torres. Torres is endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Teamsters Joint Council 42, Teamsters Local 986, CSEA Chapter 434, the National Women’s Political Caucus – Greater Pasadena Area, ACT/Pasadena Arroyo Democratic Club, Planned Parenthood Advocates Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, and the Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors. Community leaders backing her include Congresswoman Julia Brownley; State Senator Ben Allen; Sierra Madre Mayor Kris Lowe; Pasadena Community College District Trustee Tammy Silver; former PUSD Superintendent Brian McDonald; and several past PUSD Board presidents and members, along with PUSD parents and District 7 residents. Ms. Torres is aware of the issues that grip the school district and has an understanding of what it would take to correct and redress the issues of concern for the district’s students and their families, including those of the Armenian American community. The Armenian National Committee of America wishes her all the best in her endeavor for the Pasadena Unified District 7 Board seat. The Armenian National Committee of America – Pasadena Chapter is the oldest, largest, and most influential non-partisan Armenian American grassroots organization of its kind within the City of Pasadena. Founded in 1979, the Pasadena ANCA advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s thriving Armenian American community and promotes increased civic service and participation at the grassroots and public policy levels. The post ANCA Pasadena Endorses Former School District Finance Chair, Cynthia Torres, for Pasadena Unified District Board in District 7 appeared first on Asbarez.com .