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Duarte Unified board certifies 'positive' position as superintendent outlines budget risks including special education costs
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Medrano presented the district's second interim financial report showing a positive certification, an ending fund balance of about $12.3 million and multiyear projections; board members pressed on attendance and special education costs that could affect reserves.
Superintendent Dr. Medrano told the Duarte Unified School District board that the district's second interim financial report (period ending Jan. 31, 2026) qualifies for a "positive" certification and shows an unrestricted general fund surplus compared with the first interim.
Dr. Medrano summarized key assumptions that drive LCFF funding, including enrollment, average daily attendance (ADA), COLA and pension costs, and said the district's ending fund balance for the reporting period is about $12.3 million. "Duarte Unified School District, second interim report qualifies us to be certified as positive," she said. Multiyear projections presented to the board showed an estimated ending balance of about $10.9 million next year and about $8.5 million the following year.
Board members pressed staff on financial sensitivities. A board member asked what raising ADA from the presentation assumption (about 93.7%) to 95—6% would do to the underlying budget; Dr. Medrano said she did not have exact calculations at the mic but noted that raising attendance closer to pre-pandemic levels (in the 97% range) could affect the budget "in millions, not thousands." The superintendent also flagged more than $10 million in special education contributions that reduce one-time reserves; the district is considering whether some services now purchased from outside agencies can be brought in-house to trim costs.
The presentation included discussion of reserve rules under Proposition 2 and the need to justify reserve levels above 10% of the unrestricted general fund. Dr. Medrano recommended the board approve the second interim report, file required documents with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and work on a budget stabilization plan that would include revenue enhancement, expenditure reductions, contract reviews and possible use of one-time reserves.
On a motion by Mr. Reyes, seconded by Dr. Hasso, the board approved the second interim financial report and the positive certification; the vote was recorded as "Aye." Dr. Medrano said staff would provide additional calculations (bond balance, ADA sensitivity analyses) and follow up on special education cost-savings options.
