Pasadena Unified School District said new soil testing at San Rafael has confirmed the need for soil removal and replacement after City of Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) county-recommended post-Eaton Fire sampling found lead at concentrations exceeding Department of Toxic Substances Control screening levels in two Pasadena communities within district boundaries, according to information the district released Friday.

The district said the additional testing followed Los Angeles County Department of Public Health soil sampling results. Pasadena Unified conducted additional soil testing across all campuses, and initial testing at San Rafael identified areas of soil requiring additional assessment within the play field and two planter areas along the north and east boundaries of the school.

• Five public or charter schools burned or sustained severe damage in the Eaton fire, and about 1,100 Pasadena Unified students lost homes.

• Teachers deploy art and music programs to help students cope with the trauma of the January blaze.

• School board members of Pasadena Unified, which faces a multimillion-dollar deficit, voted to approve $24.5 million in budget cuts for the 2026-27 academic year.