Cloverdale Unified previews 2026–27 budget and LCAP; possible $693,000 boost to special-education funding

Superintendent Andrea presented the district’s proposed 2026–27 budget and the three‑year Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) during the board’s public hearing, previewing staffing and curriculum investments and highlighting a potential state funding change that could significantly alter the district’s bottom line.

Andrea said the LCAP will remain a “living document” and noted plans — contingent on final budget approval — to add a full‑time interpreter/family liaison so each site would have a stationed translator and to add a bus route and driver to improve neighborhood access. She also said the district plans to pilot and purchase a math curriculum for TK–8 next year and later expand to English language arts to support MTSS tiers of instruction.

Why it matters: the budget assumptions discussed by staff include statutory and proposed COLA amounts, lottery revenues and pension assumptions; together they determine whether the district can restore or increase reserves and meet board policy targets. The staff presentation flagged a potential increase in state special-education base funding under the current budget proposal that, if finalized by the Legislature and governor, could increase Cloverdale Unified’s special‑education revenue by about $693,000 — reducing the district’s general‑fund contribution to special education and materially changing multi‑year projections.

Details from the presentation: staff outlined assumptions used for 2026–27 and the two out years (2027–28 and 2028–29), including: a statutory COLA near 2.8%, a proposed supplemental (described in the packet as a 1.44% “super COLA” set aside to cover pregnancy disability leave), unchanged lottery estimates, and cautious CalSTRS/CalPERS projections. Staff identified a required restricted maintenance contribution of $725,000 for the coming year and noted board policies directing transfers to deferred‑maintenance and technology reserves.

On reserves and timing, staff said the district expects to reach a 6.28% committed reserve in 2026–27 (short of the board’s 10% aspirational goal, but improved from the recent years hovering near the state minimum). The presentation called out a set‑aside of roughly $189,000 to cover the proposed pregnancy‑leave related COLA adjustment, which staff said would largely consume that supplemental funding in the first year.

On enrollment and ADA, staff reviewed the cohort projection method, noted uncertainty from local housing developments and birth-rate trends, and emphasized conservative assumptions (for example, a TK projection held at 70 pupils to avoid overcommitment). The superintendent and finance staff said funded ADA and actual ADA are reported differently and the district must budget conservatively because funded ADA, not actual attendance, determines state revenue.

Trustee questions focused on timing and certainty: staff repeatedly cautioned that the special‑education increase and other state assumptions depend on final legislative actions, trailer‑bill language and the governor’s sign‑offs. Andrea reminded trustees the state budget process may be adjusted through late June and that final parameters could change; any significant changes would prompt a return to the board for revision (staff said revisions would likely appear at the board’s August meeting if necessary).

What happens next: the LCAP public‑comment period closed at the hearing and the board will take formal adoption action in a subsequent meeting; the proposed budget will be finalized after the state budget is settled and, if material changes occur, staff said they will present a revised budget to the board in August. The presentation did not include any formal votes to adopt the LCAP or the 2026–27 budget at tonight’s meeting.

Source: Board public hearing and staff presentation (transcript).