Following a vehicle-versus-pedestrian incident involving a child in the school zone near Arroyo Vista Elementary on Monday of this week, the South Pasadena Unified School District provided a formal statement reaffirming its commitment to student safety and referencing recently adopted policy supporting safe routes to school.
Statement from Superintendent Angela Elizondo Baxter, regarding the traffic incident on March 23, 2026:
“South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) was saddened to learn about the traffic incident involving a child near Arroyo Vista Elementary School on March 23, 2026. Thankfully, City of South Pasadena officials confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of this incident.
The District places a high priority on student safety and well-being. On January 13, 2026, the SPUSD School Board unanimously approved a board policy (BP 5142.2) stating that students and families need safe paths to our campuses. SPUSD is committed to working with families, students, local law enforcement, and city planners to establish and encourage safe routes to school and will continue to collectively identify programs and coordinate solutions at the District and City levels that support student safety.”
In a response provided to The South Pasadenan, new Superintendent Angela Elizondo Baxter expressed concern over the March 23 incident and noted that the District “places a high priority on student safety and well-being.” The statement also highlighted the School Board’s unanimous adoption of SPUSD Board Policy 5142.2 in January this year, which outlines a framework for developing safe routes to school through collaboration with families, local agencies, and community partners.
However, the District’s response did not directly address the specific concerns raised by Arroyo Vista parents over the past several months—namely, the lack of a crossing guard at the intersection of Cawston Avenue and Hawthorne Street.
That intersection has been repeatedly identified by families as a high-risk crossing point, with documented near-miss incidents and ongoing requests for the addition of a third crossing guard. Parent communications to City and District officials date back to at least March 2025.
Board Policy 5142.2 emphasizes site-specific safety assessments, coordination with local law enforcement and city planners, and equitable access to safe routes for all students. While the policy provides a broad framework for improving school access, it remains unclear how those provisions are being applied to the conditions described at Arroyo Vista.
The District did not indicate whether a formal safety assessment of the Cawston-Hawthorne intersection has been conducted, nor whether the request for an additional crossing guard has been evaluated in coordination with the City as of the publishing of this report..
The response has contributed to ongoing frustration among some parents, who say the issue has been consistently raised but not directly addressed.
As of this week, no additional crossing guard has been assigned to the intersection.
The South Pasadenan has requested further clarification from the District regarding site-specific safety evaluations and coordination efforts related to Arroyo Vista.
SPUSD Board Policy 5142.2
Adopted January 13, 2026
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM
The Governing Board recognizes that walking, bicycling, and other forms of active transport to school increase students’ physical activity and reduce vehicle traffic and air pollution in the vicinity of schools. As part of the district’s coordinated approach to supporting student wellness and safety and enhancing student learning and achievement, parent organizations, students, school administrators, and staff, local law enforcement, city planners, health officials and partners shall develop and implement strategies to establish and encourage safe routes to school program activities.
All students shall have equitable access and opportunity to participate in the district’s safe routes to school program.
The Superintendent or designee may appoint a program coordinator and identify or establish district and/or school site committees to oversee and coordinate related activities.
The Superintendent or designee may collaborate with local public works and public safety departments, transportation agencies, other city and county agencies, school staff, students, parents/guardians and parent organizations, health organizations, community organizations, and/or businesses in the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies. Strategies in support of the safe routes to school program shall be based on the grade levels of the students and an assessment of the conditions and needs of each school and the surrounding neighborhoods.
