Moreno Valley Unified board adopts 2025-26 budget and amends LCAP after public review

The Moreno Valley Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday approved the district's 2025-26 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) as amended and adopted the 2025-26 budget after presentations from district staff.

District business officials told the board the adopted-year budget reflects a projected beginning balance of roughly $109 million and assumes a 2.3% COLA for the adopted year. Susanna Lopez, director of business services, cautioned that many one-time federal and state funds that supported earlier pandemic-era programs are expiring and that the district projects deficit spending in later years if adjustments are not made: "We are not deficit spending for 24-25," Lopez said, but the multi-year view shows growing deficits without corrective action.

Trustees approved the LCAP after administrators and staff described local indicator results, including a 2.9% teacher misassignment rate and favorable school-climate survey results. Doctor Esperanza Arcey said the LCAP aligns with the district's vision and five district goals and recommended operationalizing priorities as SMART goals tied to site and department evaluations.

Board members pressed staff to add reading/ELA metrics and mental-health considerations under student engagement. "We can definitely add an English language arts achievement goal as well," Arcey said. Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the LCAP as amended and to approve the budget.

The board directed staff to return with implementation plans and interim updates; administrators said they will present unaudited actuals in September and a 45-day budget update if state budget actions require changes.

What happens next: staff will finalize SMART goals for each priority area and incorporate them into the evaluation and operational plans the board will review at future meetings.