Peggy Duncan wants Coronado Unified to spend its projected Basic Aid windfall on air conditioning, teacher pay and Transitional Kindergarten while rebuilding depleted reserves.

Duncan, an attorney and 20-year Coronado resident, laid out her spending priorities in a candidates forum published Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Coronado Eagle & Journal. She is one of four candidates competing for three open seats on the CUSD Board of Trustees in November. The others are incumbents Malachy Sandie and Alexia Palacios-Peters and challenger Kaye McCormick Schneider.

Duncan wrote that CUSD is projected to receive an additional $8 million to $10 million annually under Basic Aid starting with the 2027-28 school year. Basic Aid is the state funding model that kicks in when local property-tax revenue exceeds what Sacramento would otherwise send. The district has intentionally drawn down its reserves to about 3% during the transition. The recommended level for Basic Aid districts is 17%.

Duncan said rebuilding reserves must be a priority but argued the board can address student needs at the same time.

"Air conditioning is an immediate student health and educational issue," Duncan wrote. "When excessive heat interferes with instruction or forces shortened school days, we should not simply accept that as the cost of waiting for a long-term facilities solution."

The district has already taken steps on cooling. CUSD's board approved an HVAC equipment replacement contract at its May 21 meeting, according to the board's posted agenda.

Duncan also called for more competitive teacher salaries, investment in professional development and mentoring, and adequate funding for Transitional Kindergarten (TK). California now requires districts that operate kindergarten to offer TK to all eligible four-year-olds, creating new staffing and facility demands. Duncan said legislation that would have provided additional TK funding for Basic Aid districts failed, leaving CUSD to cover the cost on its own.

Not every candidate sees the same surplus. Incumbent Sandie, in his own forum response, noted CUSD has been deficit-spending roughly $6 million per year from reserves to cover budget shortfalls. With a total budget of about $60 million, he calculated the net new funding at $2 million to $4 million annually after the deficit is closed.

Duncan pointed to her governance experience as preparation for balancing competing priorities. In a Sept. 10 forum introduction, she described completing a three-year term as a trustee at Francis Parker School, an independent school in San Diego, and five years on its parent association board.

Duncan wrote that Basic Aid should let the district do more for students and that experience and good governance will determine whether it does so wisely.

She also addressed enrollment, saying CUSD will likely continue relying on inter-district transfers to sustain high school courses, athletics and specialized programs under Basic Aid. Those transfer students will no longer generate the same additional funding they do under the current state formula.

The CUSD Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet Oct. 15 at 4 p.m., according to the district's posted agenda.