Chico Unified board approves 2024–25 LCAP and original budget after staff edits

The Chico Unified School Board on June 26 approved the district's 2024–25 Local Control Accountability Plan, the annual update and an abbreviated "budget overview for parents," after staff described edits requested by the Butte County Office of Education and noted a new state LCAP template that adds more metrics for low-performing pupil groups.

Tina Keane, who presented the documents with Tim Caris, said the new template requires attaching metrics to actions so the district can evaluate year-to-year effectiveness. "This is a new template with a 3 year cycle," Keane said, adding that staff worked with the county office to ensure required elements were addressed.

Caris said the annual update corrected missing data in a few outcome measures and that staff typically bring minor additional edits in August. He emphasized the greater emphasis in this cycle on actions tied to metrics aimed at narrowing achievement gaps. "We added intended LCAP actions specifically supporting our lowest performing student groups," Caris said.

Board members praised the document's clarity and stakeholder input. One director noted that parent and student meeting feedback was well reflected and urged stronger emphasis on restorative practices for discipline and additional supports for special-education transitions. Board member (functional label) said parents' suggestions that would not require additional funding should be reconsidered for inclusion.

Separately, business services staff presented the district's original 2024–25 budget and a related Education Protection Account (EPA) disclosure. Staff said a recently reported state budget deal would deliver a fully funded COLA and described the state's maintenance-factor approach, which spreads some funding into later years. The EPA set-aside was described as an estimated $27,500,000 and is statutorily restricted for teacher salaries. Staff also substantiated district reserves: 3% for a district this size equals $6,500,000, and staff documented an additional $14,900,000 in reserves.

The board moved and voted unanimously to approve the LCAP package and the original 2024–25 budget and related disclosures. The approvals were taken by voice vote with no public comment and with one board member absent.