A $1.3 million estate gift will help Coronado Unified School District meet San Diego County budget requirements.
Deputy Superintendent Donnie Salamanca announced the gift during a presentation of the First Interim Budget to the board Friday evening, reporting the district will have enough money to meet budget and reserve needs until a new funding system takes effect in 2027.
The estate gift, from the estate of Patricia Jeanne Lyons who passed away in June 2023, will be accessed in June 2026. Lyons identified special education and mental health support for students as a focus for the gift, which will be distributed by the Coronado Schools Foundation.
In September, the San Diego County Office of Education ordered CUSD to make cuts in its current budget to meet financial standards set in the state’s Education Code.
Since then, the district has identified approximately $4 million in realized and potential funding changes. Budget revisions included the recently approved agreement with the Association of Coronado Teachers, a 4% salary increase.
Salamanca told the board that had the district not received that gift sum, CUSD’s deficit would have been $5.2 million, leaving reserves below the required 3% in the third year.
“We are continuously optimistic that we once again have a full and complete bridge to Basic Aid,” Salamanca said.
Restored bridge to Basic Aid
Besides the estate gift, district officials have identified additional state, federal and local revenues since the budget was adopted last June.
School districts are required to maintain reserve funds amounting to 3% of the total budget.
Coronado Unified expects to shift to a new finance system, known as Basic Aid, that could bring in an additional $8-12 million from property taxes beginning in the 2027-28 school year.
However, over the next three years, the district’s reserve fund — which was $16.9 million last year, is expected to be spent down.
Salamanca said a $300,000 shortfall was expected for the 2026-27 fiscal year in September. Now, thanks to the estate gift, the district’s reserve sits above the reserve minimum — the required reserve for that year is $1.7 million.
“We’re projecting to end the ‘26-‘27 school year with $1.9 million in reserves,” announced Salamanca on Dec 13. “That’s the year right before basic aid.”
However, the report does not reflect increases in salaries for classified employees with whom agreements have not been met. Salamanca anticipates the second Interim Budget Report to present these budget updates in the first quarter next year.
During board discussion of the revised budget, Trustee Scot Youngblood expressed his concerns about future potential shortfalls with the budget that he said relies on a one-time gift, attendance recoupment and has yet to include raises for other employees in the district.
“The buffer of $200,000 for reaching Basic Aid and satisfying the requirement it’s razor thin,” said Youngblood . “There’s still some significant budgetary issues, I think, for the district. But I’m certainly willing to support this.”
The board also set a calendar of board meetings for 2025 with consideration of six tentative special board meeting dates every other month.
In other matters:
- The board accepted a $1,200 donation of licensing rights for the December 2024 performance of “A Very Special Christmas Tree” to Coronado High School from author Debra Buchanan.
- The board appointed Erika Lowery, a district parent, to represent Coronado Unified School District on the South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) Community Advisory Committee for the current school year.
- The board is requesting parent, staff and student input in the CUSD Military Family Committee survey to inform the committee about issues important to military-connected families.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16 at the district office.
