Renee Cavanaugh was selected as president of the board for Coronado public schools Dec. 11, with Fitzhugh Lee named as vice president and Malachy Sandie as clerk.
Sworn into office one year ago after running for re-election, Cavanaugh is a former teacher serving a second term on the board and Lee is a retired naval aviator and CUSD parent serving his first term. Sandie, a retired Navy captain, was sworn in to a four-year term in 2022.
Under the direction of the trustees, the district will hold 12 regular board meetings in the upcoming year as approved by the board.
District financials
In September, Deputy Superintendent Donnie Salamanca reported CUSD ended the 2024-2025 fiscal year with $14.4 million in available reserves, $3.2 million higher than projected.
The district’s reserve amounts through 2027 maintain a positive fund balance and adhere to the state’s 3% reserve requirement.
This followed the board’s approval of a multi-million-dollar lease-purchase financing agreement in August to close a $2 million budget shortfall. At that time Salamanca said the 2025-26 First Interim Report in December would present the district’s budget solutions.
On Dec. 11, Salamanca reassured the governing board that CUSD is on track to be a basic aid school district, or funded through property taxes, by the 2027-2028 school year.
According to Salamanca, the district estimates $50 million in total revenues, up from the estimated $46.8 million when the board last adopted the budget. The report says total expenditures moved from $54.2 million to $54.9 million.
The report’s updated figures reflect negotiated salary changes with the Association of Coronado Teachers, employee reclassification and benefits.
Salamanca said debt from a redevelopment agency is the hurdle to CUSD becoming a basic aid district and the final payment is expected on Sept. 1, 2026.
“We will 1000% be a basic aid school district in 27-28,” said Salamanca.
“It will take a year or two for us to feel like a basic aid school district,” added Salamanca. “We’ll have the money there, but there’s a few adjustments that we’ll need to make to our operations in order for it to really reap benefits of us making that transition.”
The board also approved a 4% salary increase over two years for approximately 30 administrative, confidential and mid-management positions.
The fiscal impact is approximately $80,000 across both years.
The board also approved a resolution declaring district property, located at 199 Sixth St, as surplus and approving a 10-year lease between CUSD and the U.S. Navy to be used for qualified child care and development services.
Salamanca said the property is currently leased by the U.S. Navy, in addition to another entity, contributing nearly $900,000 per year to support the district’s instructional programming.
“This is the first of its kind, joint partnership, between a non-military entity and public entity and so they’re thrilled with the state of the facilities, they’re thrilled with the partnership and we’re actually hoping to serve as a model for other school districts if they’re able to support,” said Salamanca.
The next regular board meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15 at the district office.
