District presents LCAP highlights and warns of May Revision uncertainty for 2025-26 budget

Cajon Valley Union School District staff presented an end-of-year LCAP update and school-level accomplishments and walked the governing board through implications of the state May Revision for 2025-26.

Scott, the district's fiscal presenter, reviewed the governor's May Revision and the state's revenue uncertainty following wildfire-related tax filing changes. He told the board the governor's revision trimmed income-tax forecasts from the January estimate and proposed funding adjustments that could hold back roughly $3.2 million in LCFF funds from the district under one calculation, and he described the proposed approach as a potential slippery slope: "When I say we look back a year ... they said, 'Well, we overfunded education.'" The presentation included an overview of Prop 98 mechanics, a referenced 2.3% COLA proposal, and a note that the governor and legislature had differed on one-time block grants and deferrals.

District education leaders and principals presented the LCAP update and site successes. Blossom Valley principal Lori Canarum highlighted 30 years of school tradition and cited family-engagement Fridays, TEDx student talks and student growth. Administrators described LCAP priorities that align around three district instructional priorities ("the big three"): challenging learning, fun and engaging learning, and balanced learning. The presentations also reviewed professional learning investments (LETTERS, Orton-Gillingham, GLAD) and site-level indicators: the district reported an increase in unduplicated pupil percentage to about 81% (up from a 79% projection), which produced roughly $4.2 million in additional supplemental concentration funding for the current year.

Presenters said staffing and one-time investments will be prioritized to strengthen early-childhood literacy, support paraprofessionals and add a middle-school math coach. Several trustees and community members welcomed the student-focused outcomes; trustees also discussed the need to monitor state negotiations through June 30, when budget actions will be finalized.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the minimum guarantee and deferrals, and staff said they would continue monitoring negotiations between the governor and legislature and update the board as the June budget process concludes.