News Summary
The Coronado Unified School District is grappling with a $1.2 million budget gap due to a 4% drop in student enrollment. The district’s actual enrollment has decreased from last year’s total, prompting officials to approve a $3.4 million loan to mitigate financial strain. While smaller class sizes could enhance learning, staff reductions are anticipated. Salary disparities among district staff have raised concerns, along with safety improvements being implemented in schools. The district is looking forward to potential funding changes that could stabilize finances in the future.
Coronado, CA – The Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) is facing a significant budget crisis due to a drop in enrollment by 100 students. This decline has resulted in a budget gap estimated at $1.2 million, as the actual enrollment stands at 2,678 students compared to the budgeted number of 2,750 and last year’s enrollment of 2,778 students. The decrease represents a 4% drop in student numbers, directly impacting the district’s funding and overall financial health.
The loss of funding is a major concern for district officials, with Deputy District Superintendent Donnie Salamanca describing it as a “significant hit” to the budget. In response to this financial pressure, the CUSD school board unanimously voted to approve a $3.4 million loan in an effort to bridge the budget gap. This borrowing has been likened to “putting it on a credit card,” signaling the urgency of managing the budget without resorting to drastic measures such as laying off staff or cutting programs.
Despite the decrease in enrollment, class sizes have become smaller, which can be beneficial for student learning, with the student-to-teacher ratio at Village Elementary School recorded at 24:1. However, the financial implications of the enrollment drop remain challenging. The district is actively pursuing budget solutions amounting to $1.6 million to meet basic solvency requirements set by the San Diego County Office of Education.
While the loan aims to stabilize the budget for the immediate future, staff reductions are still anticipated due to the falling enrollment numbers. Following several resignations, the district opted to redistribute administrative duties rather than rehire for those positions, which may affect various departments including Visual and Performing Arts and Community Outreach.
Amidst these financial challenges, concerns have also been raised regarding salary disparities within the district. Maria Simon, the public information officer, recently had her position upgraded to full-time with an annual salary of $112,504, leading to discontent among some teachers who noted the disparity compared to their salaries despite longer tenures in the district. This has prompted discussions among teachers’ associations regarding equity in compensation.
To address ongoing issues in school safety, CUSD is implementing improvements such as distributing two-way radios to employees and repairing a vulnerable access point at Cutler Field. These steps aim to enhance security measures within the schools.
In other district updates, new Associated Student Body President Haissam Kouli reported on recent successful events aimed at easing the transition for incoming freshmen, demonstrating ongoing efforts to foster a welcoming environment for new students.
The district is poised to benefit from potential changes in funding structures, projecting that reaching Basic Aid, which offers full funding from local property taxes, would occur in the 2027-2028 school year. This shift could potentially increase annual revenue by $8 to $10 million and provide better financial stability for the future.
The next school board meeting will take place on Thursday, September 11 at 4 PM at the District Offices, where further discussions on the budget crisis and other district matters are expected to continue.
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Additional Resources
- Coronado Times: CUSD Enrollment Down, Board Approves Loan
- Wikipedia: School Enrollment
- Fox 10 Phoenix: Scottsdale Unified School District Expo
- Google Search: School Funding Challenges
- KSAT: Judson ISD Considers Changes Amid Low Enrollment
- Google Scholar: Education Funding Inequities
- Express News: Judson ISD Proposes Elementary School Closure
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Arizona Digital Free Press: Open Enrollment at Scottsdale USD
- Google News: Declining School Enrollment
Author: STAFF HERE CORONADO
The Coronado Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HERECoronado.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Coronado, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Coronado Island Film Festival, productions at Lamb’s Players Theatre, community workshops at John D. Spreckels Center, and iconic celebrations at Hotel del Coronado. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Coronado Chamber of Commerce and Visit Coronado, plus leading businesses in hospitality, dining, and tourism that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERESanDiego.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, and HERELosAngeles.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
