[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6200220,"mediaKeyId","3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b","parentId",3818108,"title","Duarte Unified presents LCAP annual update stressing literacy, family engagement and equity supports","audioSeconds",699,"startMs",453000,"endMs",1152000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b&start=453&end=1152","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b/thumbnail_453000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6200220/California/Duarte-Unified-presents-LCAP-annual-update-stressing-literacy-family-engagement-and-equity-supports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200220-2746be1b73422b02755f382943ab622f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056485&Signature=XSPdow4Bx-kA2hwwYV7-1kZ-vO6KoW03AMU~x2tDgps8UM4Wp7mVLLAdCbEC231lgJxw0x-vAigMRhuXvC4~oNBfkbdFdHcWiI5r3rXm-8oeIHx~p2yeh7vh1MCn~YNIJJwkxmvS5QLUIAzx5OEF6M5e3pswYj3QMpJI2lfMK-40NuQAvmEIUrYQZsQfBMycrDAwqVt-9~mTgDhfLjRqilfDYPTaW2nLJJZQ5oseGYYOUJbP3yeoMqmBCPqDIVY6FoYilO-X5NfFt6u4vsr76sGY1lOtuLALzcGtpgQTLkQS-y-ABOasR3KpO2QVJvLdQEmexEuKBuE4go0ldNbkVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Duarte Unified","date","2025-06-13T04:16:36Z","article","Dr. Kelly Lawson, senior director of educational services for Duarte Unified School District, presented the district’s annual update to its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) to the board at its June meeting. \"The LCAP provides an opportunity for the school district to share the story of how, what, and why programs and services are selected to meet the local needs of our students,\" she told the board.

Lawson said the LCAP is a three-year plan and summarized five district goals: closing academic achievement gaps; improving school environments to increase engagement and attendance; strengthening family and community partnerships; maintaining core infrastructure and staffing; and an equity-focused goal centered on Mount Olive High School with a focus on college and career readiness.

Why this matters: the LCAP documents how the district will use Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) resources — including supplemental and concentration funds tied to unduplicated pupils — to support students with higher needs. Lawson gave the board a demographic snapshot: 2,980 students enrolled; 53.5% qualify for free or reduced-price meals; 21.1% are English learners; 0.8% are foster youth; and the district’s unduplicated pupil percentage is 72.56%.

Lawson described concrete actions under goal 1 for academic interventions, early literacy screening and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports). She said the district will adopt a reading screener for kindergarten through grade 2 to identify reading difficulties early and expand small-group interventions. \"We are adopting a mirror, which is our reading difficulty screener, and that screener will assess our K through 2 students to see if there are any areas...and we can make those identifications early on,\" Lawson said.

On family engagement (goal 3) Lawson outlined steps to increase two-way communication, use of the ParentSquare portal and translation services at school sites. In response to a board question about parents who do not speak English or who do not use technology, Lawson said, \"We do provide translators at all of our school sites...When communication goes out to parents on ParentSquare, there is the option to translate the message so that it is in Spanish.\" She also said the district is exploring a \"parent university\" or external partner to provide training sessions for families in English and Spanish.

Board members asked how the district will expand college-preparatory supports at the high school level and raised AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and early college programming. Lawson said the district currently supports early college opportunities that have enrolled roughly 30% of high school students and that math articulation and interventions are a priority to increase a–g completion.

The board held a public hearing on the LCAP and closed the hearing by vote; the presentation materials will be considered alongside the district budget at a June meeting and then submitted to the Los Angeles County Office of Education for review and approval in August, Lawson said.

Questions and next steps: board members pressed for details on parent training plans, how the reading screener will be implemented, and how the Mount Olive equity focus will expand work-based learning, internships and industry partnerships at that campus. The district indicated the items discussed will be incorporated into the draft LCAP the board will consider for adoption.

Ending: The LCAP presentation concluded after an extended question-and-answer session. The board is scheduled to take formal action on the LCAP together with the district budget at its next scheduled adoption meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6/12/25 Regular Board Meeting - Duarte USD","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Kelly Lawson, senior director of educational services for Duarte Unified School District, presented the district’s annual Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) update, outlining five goals to close achievement gaps, strengthen school climate, increase family engagement, maintain core infrastructure and expand an equity-focused program at Mount Olive High School.","taxTitle","Duarte Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",55383,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6200206,"Board approves grant‑funded ventilation upgrades and construction amendment for Duarte High sports complex",173,6398000,6571000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b&start=6398&end=6571","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b/thumbnail_6398000.jpg","/articles/6200206/California/Board-approves-grantfunded-ventilation-upgrades-and-construction-amendment-for-Duarte-High-sports-complex","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200206-a4fe49a27eccf0c355a403af87e60b5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056485&Signature=VeIkg1LlwtFAkbflOCIzrbvq4q9QZt7a6BHM-aHF~WisxhEncd0Vl3xzeJs5-Ccu4zz8POmWBFQZtZ4jd9COv7w2iup05EeDHiBmYLqXkB6jlGR95Gu6iV5-TRqEfd9x3nACJ9OSoTZN5Y0wt2ntLgJQmkQpxDEQuYk9wjWjODHJib3Nn9wboeoAbYsheG0bb6N0~vIxObAeV9MfaiRViY06wMGjFz17uuckgtiKX9D0zFLqbTRLHwNwFXcdWYAK4Da8saeL60pqEb4SM4rfdcDB6QsiIwO0VEbjZf3LN772Om4~93PQZ4kcslzs0CtbQ0l1EPZQp1ip~O-j9zAKxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board approved Resolution No. 2524–25 making findings under Government Code provisions to allow use of CalSHAPE and related grant funds for districtwide ventilation improvements. Assistant Superintendent Tiffany Bell told the board the ventilation project is fully covered by a grant and estimated the work will cost about $218,000. \"This particular project... will be $218,000, which will be totally paid by the grant,\" Bell said. The board approved the resolution by a 5–0 vote.

Board members noted the ventilation work is both a building improvement and a potential annual operating savings. A board member asked whether the vendor estimated recurring savings; the presenter said the project is estimated to save about $11,000 per year in energy or operating costs.

In separate action, the board approved Amendment No. 2 to the Bernard Brothers Inc. agreement for the Duarte High School sports complex project. The amendment passed on a recorded vote of 5–0. Board members later raised site concerns during non‑agenda comments: Board member Reyes asked about roof warranty and ongoing leaks at other sites and urged attention to field turf safety and maintenance before the next athletics season.

Why this matters: the ventilation work is grant‑funded, reducing local capital outlay needs while improving campus air infrastructure and modestly reducing annual operating costs. The sports-complex amendment advances construction work at Duarte High School but prompted questions about long‑term maintenance and warranty assurances for roofing and field surfaces.

Ending: The board approved both measures during the meeting; district staff and contractors will proceed with the funded ventilation project and the amended construction work subject to contract terms and project oversight.","The board approved a resolution to use grant funds for districtwide ventilation improvements and approved an amendment to the Duarte High School sports complex contract. Finance staff said the ventilation project (about $218,000) will be fully grant-funded and is expected to save roughly $11,000 annually.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6200210,"Parent says Maxwell Academy student missed 36 hours of IEP services; requests compensatory education",137,3429000,3566000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b&start=3429&end=3566","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b/thumbnail_3429000.jpg","/articles/6200210/California/Parent-says-Maxwell-Academy-student-missed-36-hours-of-IEP-services-requests-compensatory-education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200210-84d185c4a8d10fc759f347958f440552/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056485&Signature=nsCytY17B8CQEFLqFTERWWF~Px16tEtrqcr65pk2Y~zIpqzWZWZaTH8F6YRv3p1J6n2ev2HANlVi2g9eBNAinjp0pG-EIdaKjHv3T5aNkVOLzqU65nVNif9EGHliGSzX47QSf6ETQEq47BZegpGhBfhcKsqBz4SSU3HJtxqlA55GxkPdWNBQS3ZW1xcRYnhr3LcV7EfFZj~Leh63DKAHmD-Vg22~aD3RZIrSrl-T90b6K-qHj900qi4iVUVNiOkkiy8LpkTC~Prj2U1e1NPBrLzaxJaOfmFw~QbyLE5Kb7r7TI4iodoQHNWe4BIEwDNMJE-nqBmaWl2nwtbdawq-qQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dahlia Magnus, a parent of two Maxwell Academy students, addressed the board in public comment and said the district failed to provide legally required special-education services to her daughter, Chloe, who has a specific learning disability. Magnus said she first raised concerns in late January after Chloe reported she had not been receiving IEP services.

\"It was only during this [IEP] meeting that the district representative finally admitted that Chloe had not been receiving her IEP services,\" Magnus told the board. She said she requested service logs and pushed for information for weeks, recording the March IEP meeting with permission. Magnus said the district informed her that Chloe had not received 36 hours of legally protected special-education support and that the parties have not agreed to a plan for compensatory education.

Magnus said she escalated the issue to the superintendent after not getting timely information from the school principal, and alleged lack of transparency and slow district response. She told the board that she was \"only listened to if I speak in legal terms and threaten litigation\" and warned that elected board members had not responded to her complaints earlier in the year. She said she will continue to press for a resolution: \"I am not backing down. I will not stop until both of my children are being provided a free and appropriate public school education.\"

What the district has said in the meeting: Magnus said Superintendent Nadia Hillman has indicated the district is handling the situation; Magnus countered that she does not view the district as partnering with the family to resolve the issue.

Action requested and current status: Magnus asked for service logs and compensatory education; she reported that, as of the public comment, no compensatory-education agreement had been reached. The board did not take an immediate public action on the comment during the meeting; the record shows the parent raised the complaint and sought a district response and remedy.

Ending: The comment places a specific alleged special-education service failure on the board’s public record. District staff should follow special-education procedures, provide requested documentation and, if appropriate, negotiate compensatory services consistent with federal and state special-education law.","At public comment, a Maxwell Academy parent, Dahlia Magnus, said her daughter Chloe did not receive IEP‑mandated special-education services for the 2024–25 school year, that the district admitted the omission at a March IEP meeting, and that no agreement on compensatory services has been reached.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6200215,"Duarte Unified budget presentation shows multi‑year structural deficit narrowing; warns fund balance will shrink without state certainty",1628,2388000,4016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b&start=2388&end=4016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3818108-d3da75e6e41ea617c0eef62a55ee536b/thumbnail_2388000.jpg","/articles/6200215/California/Duarte-Unified-budget-presentation-shows-multiyear-structural-deficit-narrowing-warns-fund-balance-will-shrink-without-state-certainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6200215-2b968b782aa1f45616c1087dc7977e94/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056485&Signature=YdNWVfTuzmXV7kTqDKNUPQAMcsUx3XQo2triiM73GS2edPWldm~76pFAHY7ptUvoTKQHIEwA92AUw5gMrDy1qURTJ84TsYvpjSTcHAvLQNpp4KxbgGz0WwbDMpPIH2bPhQMIPAULkbuv3M55~-X4dm6PwYfxUeW-LmNmPFcqorzeJeV3AaGOciQf9TNPW-pNqZIwJ1XlvjGyIwBnJ41aHpOZqdHXuy~7wSRVp4MyQkFKILtAjuPac0Zh8wNeQHLCVE8E8aPdd0jfkJaaq5Lg3Hb7ViHJNVeI2I84GQRyERynYrdb2wi34lQoX3dBaRKYPVWWu0Db9D3krfI6TdOrhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tiffany Bell, assistant superintendent of business services, gave a comprehensive FY25–26 budget review to the board, explaining how the district’s revenue, expenditures and reserves interact and why the state budget outlook matters for Duarte Unified.

Bell said California’s May revise projects a state-level shortfall and that the state expects to draw from the Proposition 98 rainy day fund to maintain K–12 funding levels. \"This means that the budget is fluid,\" Bell told the board, cautioning that projections will change as state revenues and policy decisions evolve.

Key figures Bell presented: the district’s projected enrollment for 2024–25 is about 2,981 students; the district’s general fund revenue is roughly $52 million against projected expenses near $56 million for the year, producing a near‑term deficit on the order of $3.8 million. Bell said the district’s beginning fund balance is approximately $12 million, with an unrestricted ending balance projected to decline over the next several years and committed reserves falling below the board’s 10% target in later years if current conditions persist.

Bell outlined funding mechanics: LCFF base grant allocations, grade‑span adjustments (TK–3 and 9–12), supplemental and concentration funding for unduplicated pupils, and federal grants. She noted the district’s unduplicated pupil percentage and concentration funding are above the 55% threshold, which triggers additional concentration funds.

On state issues, Bell summarized the May revise: a roughly $12 billion state deficit and a plan to use rainy day funds; a COLA (cost‑of‑living adjustment) of 2.3% assumed for current planning; and a possible LCFF deferral of $1.8 billion from June to July that could affect cash flow. She emphasized that district cash flow and multiyear projections must account for these state‑level uncertainties.

Board members asked detailed questions about reserve policy, the district’s committed fund balance, health and welfare costs for retirees and employees, enrollment and Average Daily Attendance declines, and the district’s structural deficit. Bell said the district had reduced overtime and extra duty, reallocated positions to restricted funds, and improved contract management as part of deficit‑reduction work. She reported the structural deficit has narrowed from about $4.6 million to about $2.5 million in the current multiyear projection.

Bell recommended bringing the proposed budget and the LCAP back for formal adoption at a June board meeting with a positive certification for the next three years and noted the district will submit the adopted budget to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The board opened and closed a public hearing on the proposed budget at the meeting; the adoption action was scheduled for a future meeting and was not completed at this session.

Ending: Bell urged conservative planning and close monitoring of enrollment and state budget changes, noting that the district’s reserve policy (board resolution adopting a 10% minimum reserve) remains central to financial stability.","Assistant Superintendent Tiffany Bell presented the district’s FY25–26 budget, projecting a multi‑year decline in fund balance despite steps to reduce a structural deficit from about $4.6 million to $2.5 million. She emphasized enrollment declines and state-level May revise uncertainty that will affect future funding and reserves.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Duarte Unified presents LCAP annual update stressing literacy, family engagement and equity supports

Board approves grant‑funded ventilation upgrades and construction amendment for Duarte High sports complex

Parent says Maxwell Academy student missed 36 hours of IEP services; requests compensatory education

Duarte Unified budget presentation shows multi‑year structural deficit narrowing; warns fund balance will shrink without state certainty