Newport‑Mesa trustees hear LCAP update, approve positive certification recommendation for 2024–25 budget

Trustees of the Newport‑Mesa Unified School District heard a detailed report on the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the recommended 2024–25 all‑funds budget during their regular board meeting.

Assistant Superintendent Vanessa Galey and LCAP lead presented the annual update, highlighting staffing and training priorities, expanded AVID programming, family and community engagement efforts and an “equity multiplier” targeted to Back Bay and Monte Vista. The LCAP summary noted $25 million in targeted supplemental funding and described both required state metrics (including chronic absenteeism) and district‑specific measures to track program impact.

During the budget presentation, the district’s finance team explained the 2024–25 budget profile: a projected $15.6 million decrease in revenue driven by the end of one‑time COVID funding, a modest projected enrollment increase of approximately 124 students (primarily transitional kindergarten), and significant one‑time expenditures. Among those one‑time items, the package includes roughly $15 million for campus safety improvements (cameras, door hardware, bollards, window treatments, alerting systems and some campus safety personnel) and about $9 million for facility expansions to support universal transitional kindergarten (UTK), including portables. Staff described the safety and UTK funds as one‑time investments intended to accelerate work identified in the facilities master plan.

District staff stressed that the 2024–25 year is a temporary dip in reserves and recommended a positive certification for the budget, noting reserves would remain well above state minimums (projected at about 18.6% of general fund in 2024–25). Trustees asked about pension cost projections, line‑item timing (books and supplies, noncapitalized equipment) and opportunities to reduce recurring expenditures at the first interim report. The CFO said staff will return with recommended adjustments at first interim reporting.

The board did not take a final vote to adopt the budget at this hearing; staff recommended certification and follow‑up to ensure expenditure alignment and to refine equipment and overtime line items. The district will post the full plans and is accepting public feedback on the LCAP and budget documents.

The hearing record: the budget presentation and related discussion began with the presentation of the all‑funds June budget and concluded with trustees’ questions and staff’s commitment to return with interim recommendations.