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Duarte Unified board ratifies settlement, confirms administrative hires and approves several facility contracts
Summary
In closed session trustees ratified a special-education settlement, appointed Kevin Morris as a high-school principal and approved a new assistant superintendent of business services; the board also approved multiple contracts and modular building moves for campus projects and a resolution on fund-balance commitments.
The Duarte Unified School District board on Monday announced the ratification of a special-education settlement, confirmed several administrative hires and approved multiple facility and contract items on the business and finance agenda.
In closed session, trustees "approved and ratified the final settlement agreement and general release dated May 2026" in a special-education due-process matter (case number 202510083). The motion was recorded as moved by Dr. Fle and seconded by Dr. Hasso; the board chair reported all members voted in favor.
The board also confirmed personnel actions taken in closed session: Kevin Morris was appointed to serve as a principal (high-school/MIT and director of college and career pathways), and Magna Mena Bulada was approved to serve as assistant superintendent of business services. Those motions were moved by Mr. Reyes and seconded by Miss Hogin and recorded as approved.
On the business and facilities agenda, trustees approved:
- A fee proposal for an architect to prepare construction documents for a Valley View Elementary playground; trustees asked staff to follow up on fence design and safety details. - Purchase of a modular building to house a health center at Beardsley Academy after staff reported the existing building was not viable to move. - A proposal to temporarily relocate a building to Beardsley Academy en route to installation at Maxwell Academy to provide classroom space while site work completes. - A joint-use lease agreement with the city for outdoor sports facilities and related site projects. - Resolution 30-2526 establishing fund-balance commitments and reserve reporting under Proposition 2; staff described the required reporting of reserves above 10% and the district—s commitments to address uncertainty and planned uses.
Trustees approved employment contracts and senior-management designations for multiple assistant-superintendent positions and took action on a tentative agreement with the Duarte Unified Education Association; those labor items were presented as action items or receive-for-information items and recorded on the consent calendar as appropriate.
Why it matters: the appointments fill operational leadership roles that district leaders said will support implementation of the LCAP actions and budget priorities. The facility approvals advance several site improvements and temporary relocations intended to keep programs operational during construction and space transitions.
Votes and process notes: most items were approved by general voice vote with motions and seconds recorded; the transcript records the motions, seconds and board responses but does not supply a complete roll-call vote tally for each item in the public portion of the record. When trustees asked technical questions (for example, about fence picket design and which buildings are moveable), staff committed to return with additional details.
Next steps: staff will implement the personnel appointments, execute vendor contracts and return with any requested follow-up details on construction materials, timelines and reserve reporting.
