Glendora Unified board hears steep enrollment drop, considers staffing and program changes

Glendora Unified School District trustees on April 30 heard updated enrollment projections showing a sharp decline and discussed possible staffing reductions and site reorganizations if the trend continues.

Assistant Superintendent Janette presented historical enrollment and a new projection that the district could lose about 290 students in 2024–25, dropping funded enrollment from roughly 6,335 to about 6,045. She and other presenters said the district’s models show further losses through 2027–28 — potentially to the mid‑5,000s — if incoming kindergarten and transitional kindergarten classes do not increase. "We're projecting TK and kindergarten to be smaller this year, which drives a significant drop in our funded ADA," Miss Janette said.

Board members immediately probed the underlying assumptions. Janette said transfer counts from other districts — which many districts begin to release May 1 — and local TK/K intake were factored into the projection, and noted the district currently has attendance rates of about 95–96 percent. "Those kindergarten numbers and known transfers are what swing these projections," she said.

District staff warned that lower enrollment will directly reduce LCFF funding and other ADA‑based revenue. The presentation estimated a need to reduce certificated staffing by roughly 8–10 full‑time equivalents to align with projected enrollment and budgets; staff qualified that number could be adjusted if the district expands TK (which would require hiring two TK teachers). "Based on our estimates, we may need to reduce anywhere from eight to ten certificated FTE," Miss Janette said.

Trustees and staff discussed options for responding to declining enrollment, including consolidating programs or moving programs to underutilized sites to better match building capacity with student seats. Board President Clifford asked staff to prepare site‑level cost and revenue comparisons so the board can evaluate alternatives. "We need a business model: how many seats do we need to fill to meet our fiscal obligations," Clifford said.

The board also heard how changes to state policy could affect enrollment. Superintendent De Gracia explained that pending legislation around the District of Choice program (SB 897) would change the current 10 percent cap and could allow more choice students to enroll in Glendora if enacted. "If the law is amended as proposed, it could materially change our incoming numbers," De Gracia said, cautioning that the bill still faces assembly consideration.

Practical next steps include deeper site‑by‑site financial analyses, a facilities master plan procurement (staff recommended bringing a contract to the May board meeting), and follow‑up sessions to model consolidation or program moves. Earlier in the meeting the board adopted the meeting agenda by motion and second; no other formal votes on enrollment or staffing were taken at this session.

What happens next: staff will return with detailed per‑site revenue/cost analyses and a facilities master plan contract for board consideration at a future open meeting.