Duarte Unified board ratifies special-education settlement, approves teacher tentative agreement and multiple consent items
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Summary
At its regular meeting, the Duarte Unified School District Board ratified a closed-session special-education settlement, approved a tentative agreement with its teachers' association and adopted several consent items, including comprehensive school safety plans and developer-fee reports.
The Duarte Unified School District Board on Tuesday announced it had "approve[d], ratify[d] the final settlement agreement and general release dated 01/11/2026" in a special-education due-process case and then approved a package of actions including a tentative teachers’ agreement and multiple routine resolutions.
President Reyna Diaz told the board the closed-session action concerned a student special-education due-process matter (case no. 202500988). "It was moved by Mr. Tom Reyes and second by Dr. Finley and all board members voted in favor," Diaz said when informing the public of the outcome.
The board later opened a public hearing on a public disclosure and tentative agreement between Duarte Unified and the Duarte Unified Education Association. After brief remarks, board members moved to approve the tentative agreement. Board members thanked negotiators; Mr. Crosby and Dr. Medrano were singled out by several trustees for their roles in the negotiations. "We endured this process... it just feels really good to be able to do that," one trustee said in thanking the negotiating teams.
Other actions approved by voice vote included adoption of the Comprehensive School Safety Plans, a services proposal that aligns early-childhood classroom relocation and health-center relocation planning, and two resolutions: the developer-fee annual report for fiscal year 2024–25 (Resolution 11-25-26) and a resolution designating applicant agents to seek reimbursements related to damage at Duarte High School (Resolution 12-25-26). The board also moved and approved several routine consent items and nominations for the CSBA Subregion 23 delegate assembly.
Board members emphasized collaboration in bargaining and staff noted that some conference-related spending on the consent calendar would be funded from restricted or one-time funds rather than the general fund. Dr. Medrano explained that certain conference trips use educator-effectiveness funds and CTE grant funds, "so none of this will impact our general fund."
The board adjourned following the remaining nonagenda remarks.
The board’s actions include both formal votes reported at the meeting and informational items. For details on individual motions, presenters cited names and resolution numbers at the meeting.