Carlsbad Unified trustees adopt amended 2025–26 budget after public criticism of board president

Carlsbad Unified School District trustees on June 25 adopted an amended 2025–26 general fund budget, voting 4–0 to restore a $3.124 million stabilization commitment and maintain the board's reserve guidance.

The special meeting followed a prior failed motion and public concern about whether the December recategorization of reserve funds had been implemented. District staff said the revised budget was prepared using revenue assumptions from the governor's May revise and incorporated Proposition 30 funding; the changes were posted so the public could review them before the June 30 deadline, Superintendent Dr. Norman and staff said.

During public comment, several speakers tied the budget item to questions about Board President Kathy Rawlings' conduct. Shauna Hurst, who identified herself as a Carlsbad resident and frequent meeting attendee, thanked trustees “for not passing the budget last week” and urged adoption of the revised proposal while criticizing Rawlings' handling of prior meetings. Tamara Dixon called on the board to finalize the budget “excluding the $3 million that Kathy Rawlings illegally transferred,” and Gene Walker warned that misappropriation of public funds can provoke criminal prosecutions, citing recent prosecutions in another district.

District staff presented the revised figures and explained that staff restored the stabilization arrangement to its original commitment of $3.124 million and removed certain board LCAP priorities from the other commitments category to provide clarity for the public.

Trustees discussed the vote in the context of uncertain state and federal funding and the district's status as a basic aid district. Trustees said they were acting to preserve classroom resources and fiscal stability given shifting revenue projections. After discussion the board moved and seconded adoption of Exhibit A (the revised budget) and approved it unanimously. Miss Garcia called the roll; the transcript recorded the vote as four yes votes and Trustee Rawlings as absent.

Board members also approved a separate calendar change, moving the August board meeting from Aug. 20 to Aug. 13, 2025, to allow timely hiring before school begins. The meeting adjourned at about 6:30 p.m.

The meeting record shows public pressure around governance and fiscal transparency. The board adopted the revised budget and returned the stabilization funds to the prior commitment; members did not take a formal personnel action regarding the board presidency during the special meeting.