CNUSD board hears midyear LCAP update showing staffing-focused spending and improvements in attendance and English‑learner outcomes

Dr. Charlotte Capps presented the Corona‑Norco Unified School District's midyear Local Control and Accountability Plan update, telling the board the district saw an estimated $4,000,000 increase in funds tied to universal transitional kindergarten and that approximately 79% of LCAP resources support staff positions.

Capps said the district’s midyear expenditures show goal 1 (academic excellence) is largely expended (98.7%), goal 2 (student safety and well‑being) sits at about 74.4% expended, and goal 3 (equity and access) at 45.7%. She highlighted improvements including a 4.5% rise in CTE pathway completion, a 10.3% increase in industry certifications, a 6.1% increase on the college‑and‑career indicator, and K–12 attendance at 95.48%.

“About 79% of our LCAP does support staff positions,” Capps said, and she noted a sizable Chromebook order—nearly $4,300,000—had been placed but not yet invoiced, explaining part of why expenditures appear low in some actions. She also described reinvestment of LCFF carryover funds to sustain class‑size reductions implemented this year.

Trustees used the presentation to press for context. One board member asked why some safety and equity expenditures appeared substantially below projections; Capps pointed to timing and billing schedules for items such as Chromebooks, contracted services that bill through the year, and busing costs for unduplicated students. On suspension and expulsion rates, a trustee said teachers report worsening classroom behavior even as the midyear suspension rate appeared lower. Capps replied the figures are midyear snapshots that can rise by year end and that suspensions and expulsions continue to occur when warranted.

The district also flagged gains in English‑learner reclassification (reported at about 18.25%, a roughly 4% increase year over year) and a doubling in graduates earning the seal of biliteracy (18.9% this year). Capps said many actions remain in progress and that site and central teams are planning targeted stakeholder engagement: two LCAP advisory meetings are scheduled in March and April, a family‑voice survey will launch districtwide with QR‑code banners at schools, and the district expects to return for a public hearing and a final LCAP presentation on June 23.

Board members requested continued clarity on which expenditures are one‑time versus ongoing and asked staff to make suspension‑alternative metrics visible (for example, incidents of fights or bullying) so the board can assess student safety alongside discipline rates. Capps said the district will continue reporting midyear outcomes and provide more detail on timing for large purchases and contracted services.

The board did not take a final action on LCAP at the meeting; staff said they will return with updated materials ahead of the June public hearing.