The Gustine Unified School District Board of Trustees held a public hearing on a proposed budget and Local Control Accountability Plan for the 2026-27 academic year during a board meeting last Wednesday. Both items will be voted on in a June 24 meeting.
Some of the items discussed during Wednesday’s meeting include a look into the general fund, budget changes and assessments, top priorities and districtwide accomplishments and challenges.
GUSD is projected to bring $35.3 million in revenue with $25.7 from the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), $6.9 million from state revenue, $1.8 million through federal revenue and $796,968 in local revenue. The district could see an $1.2 million increase in revenue from the year prior.
Despite the increase, GUSD is expected to overspend at $35.6 million. Certificated and classified salaries and employee benefits make up the majority of the spending at a combined $24.2 million. As a result, the district could see at a loss of $278,322.
Kim Medeiros, director of curriculum and instruction, presented on the district’s LCAP with three goals in mind: academic achievement, positive school climate and culture and parent and family community partnerships.
To understand what the district should prioritize, family and community and staff surveys were distributed. In the family and community survey, safety, college and career readiness and nutritious meals served in the cafeteria were considered priorities to consider from families.
Academic support, reduced classroom sizes and recruiting and retaining teachers were considered a priority for staff, Medeiros said.
From this past year, GUSD saw chronic absenteeism decrease by 6.4%, student participation rose from 54% to 66% districtwide, with Gustine Middle and High Schools showing the most growth and unduplicated families attending school events increased substantially from 20% to 60% in 2025-26.
The district, however, had some shortfalls such as staff perceptions declined by 15%, Romero Elementary participation rates decreased from 76% to 69% and staff feels safety has declined from 84% to 64%, Medeiros said.
One feedback Medeiros received from parents at the district’s advisory committee was how the district’s events would happen on the same day as the other sites, resulting in her not getting the necessary suggestions, she added
“One thing I’ll present to our admin is a calendar, just so we’re not doubling up,” Medeiros said. “I told them (the parents) we’ll come up with a calendar so we don’t have that duplication.”
