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Poway Unified presents midyear LCAP and budget figures; public speakers urge stronger safety, privacy and program fixes
Summary
District staff reported midyear LCAP figures showing $34.7M budgeted LCAP expenditures and $32.7M spent (including encumbrances), with chronic absenteeism down to 9.9%. Public commenters raised concerns about student safety, alleged privacy breaches, discrimination, and a choir trip logistics dispute that could cost boosters an additional $11,500.
District staff presented the Poway Unified School District's Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) midyear update on Feb. 13, reporting midyear expenditures and early outcome indicators while trustees and members of the public raised safety, privacy and program concerns.
Dave Lamaster and other staff told the board the district's adopted LCAP budget totaled $34.7 million for the year. Midyear expenditures and encumbrances totaled about $32.7 million, leaving roughly $1.9 million to implement remaining actions. The district reported improvements in attendance and a drop in chronic absenteeism, which was reported at 9.9% compared with higher baseline figures from prior years. Staff said full academic results tied to Casp testing will be available in the spring annual LCAP update.
Public commenters used the meeting's public‑comment period to press the board on a range of concerns. Casey Don said families across the district are "struggling" and urged clear plans to address fears that immigration enforcement could appear on campuses; Don also described an incident in which a middle-school student's transgender status was disclosed to staff against parental instruction and said that violated the California Education Code. "When families can't trust that schools will respect their children's privacy and safety, they leave," Don said. Trustees acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and said staff will follow up.
Lindsay Ball, a parent, asked trustees to publicly reaffirm Board Policy 0410 (nondiscrimination) and to resist directives that would conflict with board policy; she said local officials should stand firm against efforts to erode protections for transgender students. "I ask you to reject any request or orders that would conflict with board policy 0410," Ball said.
Becky Gueras, representing a choir boosters group, said a planned April 2025 choir trip (54 students, six chaperones) is at risk after district risk-management guidance required two reserved charter buses and said chaperones could not drive private vehicles. Gueras said the boosters could cover the shortfall by having a parent chaperone drive a personal vehicle but were told that is not permitted; the second bus would cost about $11,500 plus $716 for a hotel for the driver, she said. Board staff said they would follow up with the boosters to clarify the guidance and documentation.
Trustees and staff also discussed other items in the meeting: first readings for new middle‑school ELA and high‑school economics textbooks (staff will solicit further community feedback before March second readings), ratification of purchase orders and contracts, and the adoption of updated school-site safety plans per Education Code requirements. Trustees praised counseling staff and recognized district finalists and honors: Jason Schaer was named San Diego County middle-school counselor of the year and Bernardo Heights Middle earned ASCA RAMP designation.
Board members indicated an ongoing focus on budget transparency, safety planning and clearer communication to the community; staff were directed to follow up on the public comments that raised alleged legal or safety violations and to return with clarifications where policy or procedure required adjustments.
