Peggy Duncan, 54, an attorney, is running for Coronado Unified School District trustee.
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I am running for school board because I believe my experience can serve CUSD at an important moment of change. With my own four children now in college, I have the time and commitment to give back to the community that has given our family so much.
I bring a unique combination of experience as a former school board trustee, attorney, juvenile court judge pro tem, nonprofit leader and parent. For more than 30 years, much of my professional and volunteer work has focused on children and education. I understand good governance, responsible financial oversight and how to thoughtfully evaluate complex issues.
My priorities are clear: student safety and well-being, academic excellence, attracting and retaining exceptional teachers, thoughtful policies around technology and AI and responsible management of the opportunities presented by basic aid. I am prepared to bring experience, thoughtful leadership and a student-first focus to CUSD.
The three most important issues facing CUSD are student well-being, rapidly evolving technology and maintaining academic excellence through exceptional teachers.
First, student mental health and well-being must remain a priority, particularly during the critical middle school years. Students cannot reach their academic potential unless they feel safe, supported and connected at school.
Second, CUSD must thoughtfully address technology, including cell phones, excessive screen time and artificial intelligence. We should embrace technology when it improves learning while protecting critical thinking, academic integrity and student well-being.
Finally, academic excellence depends on attracting and retaining outstanding teachers. As CUSD transitions to basic aid, we have an opportunity to improve competitive compensation, professional development, mentoring and classroom support.
Good governance connects all three — using our new financial opportunities responsibly to make thoughtful, sustainable investments that directly benefit students.
My top three goals would be responsible management of the basic aid transition, addressing immediate student and facility needs and strengthening academic excellence through exceptional teachers.
First, I would work to balance rebuilding CUSD’s reserves with making thoughtful investments now. Fiscal responsibility is essential, but students today should also benefit from this historic improvement in our financial position.
Second, I would prioritize air conditioning and other immediate student needs. Excessive heat should not interfere with learning or force shortened school days. We need near-term relief while developing a financially responsible long-term facilities plan.
Third, I would focus on attracting, retaining and supporting outstanding teachers through competitive compensation, professional development, mentoring and strong leadership.
Across all three, my goal would be the same: use the opportunities presented by basic aid to improve CUSD today while ensuring that the decisions we make are sustainable for the future.
Student achievement begins with excellent teachers, high expectations and identifying students who need additional support before they fall behind. CUSD performs well overall, but strong averages should never cause us to overlook individual students or groups who are struggling.
As a board member, I would focus on attracting and retaining exceptional teachers through competitive compensation, professional development, mentoring and strong leadership. I would also insist on using data to identify achievement gaps and provide targeted interventions, while maintaining high expectations for every student.
Finally, I would ensure that technology supports rather than undermines learning. That means reducing unnecessary screen time, thoughtfully integrating AI and emphasizing critical thinking, reading, writing, discussion and problem-solving.
The board’s role is to establish clear academic priorities, provide the necessary resources and then measure results — ensuring that our investments are actually improving student outcomes.
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CUSD has made significant progress reducing chronic absenteeism from its post-pandemic highs, but approximately one in 10 students still meets the definition of chronically absent. That’s important because students can’t benefit from excellent teachers and programs if they’re not in school. We should look beyond the districtwide average, by school, grade and student group, to understand which students are missing school and why, and then target our response to those causes.
CUSD’s transition to basic aid changes the enrollment equation. Enrollment will remain important, but the district will no longer be as dependent on increasing enrollment to generate additional state funding. That gives us greater flexibility to focus on the right enrollment for our schools, while protecting class sizes and programs.
Our priority should be retaining resident students. As a parent, I understand why some Coronado families choose other schools, and I want CUSD to be the place families choose to stay because of exceptional teachers, strong academics, engaging programs and a supportive school environment.
Interdistrict transfers will continue to play an important role, particularly in sustaining robust high school courses, athletics and specialized programs. But under basic aid, we must carefully balance their educational benefits against their costs and available capacity.
I would approach budget planning with a focus on long-term sustainability while addressing the needs of students today. As CUSD transitions to basic aid, we have an extraordinary opportunity, but also a responsibility to rebuild healthy reserves, forecast revenues and expenses carefully, and avoid commitments we cannot sustain.
At the same time, fiscal responsibility does not mean simply accumulating reserves. We should make thoughtful investments in immediate priorities, including teacher compensation, air conditioning, student well-being and academic programs.
If we faced a budget shortfall, I would first look for operational efficiencies and expenditures that have the least direct impact on students. I would protect classroom instruction, excellent teachers and essential student supports as much as possible. Any reductions should be strategic, data-driven and transparent, rather than across-the-board cuts.
My guiding principle would be simple: protect students today without compromising CUSD’s financial stability tomorrow.
Students with disabilities are entitled to an excellent education regardless of whether federal funding covers the full cost. We should continue to advocate for the federal government to fully fund its commitment to special education, while ensuring CUSD uses its available resources effectively.
I would focus on attracting and retaining excellent special-education teachers and support staff. I was pleased to see CUSD add classroom aides this year, providing additional support to both students and teachers. We should continue evaluating caseloads, staffing, professional development and mentoring to determine where additional support is needed.Parents must also be meaningful partners in developing and implementing their child’s educational plan, with early intervention when concerns arise.
Finally, as our financial position improves with basic aid, special education must remain part of our long-term planning. Every student deserves the individualized support necessary to learn, grow and reach their potential.
The district must always comply with applicable state and federal law, whether individual board members agree with a particular mandate or not. California now requires districts to adopt updated immigration-enforcement policies, establish notification procedures when enforcement is confirmed on a school site and provide families with information about their educational rights.
My priority would be to ensure CUSD implements those requirements clearly and consistently. Staff should be trained so they understand exactly what to do if immigration agents request access or student information, and families should receive accurate information about district procedures and their rights.
Beyond compliance, our responsibility is straightforward: Every child in CUSD deserves to feel safe, supported and able to learn, regardless of immigration status. We should protect student privacy as required by law, minimize disruption to education, support students experiencing fear or anxiety and maintain strong communication with families. Follow the law, protect our students, and keep schools focused on education.
Technology should be used when it meaningfully improves learning, not simply because it is available. I support strong cell phone restrictions, but we also need to examine total educational screen time. Districts are making significant changes; for example, Los Angeles Unified recently adopted major reductions in classroom screen time, including eliminating routine screen use in the earliest grades and imposing limits for older students.
At the same time, AI will be part of our students’ future. I am currently completing a certificate program in AI in education through the University of San Diego so I can bring informed, practical knowledge to these decisions. We should teach students to use AI safely and effectively while protecting academic integrity and independent thinking.
Technology also provides essential accessibility tools for some students.
The goal isn’t more or less technology — it’s the right technology, for the right educational purpose, while preserving human interaction and critical thinking.
For some responses, I used AI to check grammar and reduce word count.
