Pasadena Unified high schools to adjust schedules, practices while tests check lead levels on sports fields

Muir’s Gianna Butler, shown homering against Eastside at home last season, won’t get a chance to duplicate that feat until city health officials know the soil at Muir is safe to play on. Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham

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By Fred Robledo

frobledo@scng.com

During the Eaton fire, boys and girls basketball and soccer teams in the PUSD not did not practice or play games for more than two weeks. When they returned, most games were played on the road.

“I got a phone call that said they’re going to move our games or double up on some games,” Federico said. “I don’t have a lot of information right now, but I’m sure we will figure it out and adjust like anything else.”

Three high schools in the Pasadena Unified School District — Marshall Fundamental School, John Muir High School and Pasadena High School— have been told they can’t use their baseball and softball fields while the district works with the city health department to test the lead levels in the soil on those fields.

In the wake of the Eaton fire, some areas have shown levels of lead exceeding public health thresholds, PUSD Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco explained in a letter released districtwide Sunday.

“Some of these results show elevated levels of lead at locations near some of our schools,” Blanco said. “We are working with the Pasadena Public Health Department, which is analyzing the results and developing guidance for schools.”

Muir Athletic Director Alfredo Resendiz said Tuesday the school’s impacted sports teams will adjust by playing all of their games on the road until directed otherwise.

During the Eaton fire, boys and girls basketball and soccer teams in the PUSD did not practice or play games for more than two weeks. When they returned, most games were played on the road.

“Going through COVID prepared us for anything, and then we had the fires,” Resendiz said. “We’ll adjust on the fly and handle it. The kids are resilient. It’s not ideal but they will play through it.

“We’ve been told not to use the dirt, so teams can practice on the grass and if there are other locations available to practice, we’ll look into it. Any games that were scheduled home this week will be on the road. Schools in our league have been very accommodating and understanding. So, we will deal with it until directed otherwise.”

Pasadena baseball coach Chris Rucker said he was told following practice Monday that the school’s dirt infield could not be used until it is tested. Pasadena has a home game scheduled against Hoover on Friday that will likely be played at Hoover or an alternate site.

As far as practice, Rucker said they will improvise.

“We can use the football field, which is artificial turf, to take infield and stuff like that,” Rucker said. “We can use our batting cages for practice and our outfield grass to work on other things.

“Our kids have gone through a lot with the fires and other distractions. We just want to play baseball, we’re not going to let this stop us. It’s not easy, and it makes getting ready a little more difficult, but these kids have dealt with difficult, especially after the fires. They just want to play and not think about all this.”

Marshall baseball coach Joseph Federico said the school is working out the details regarding games and practices.