Welcoming the 2025-26 school year

Welcome back! School has begun for our 22,400 students, 1,200 teachers and close to 2,000 classified staff members. I apologize in advance to my neighbors for the increase in traffic, but we are preparing the future on each and every campus near you.

Downey Unified starts this year with a new Superintendent, Dr Roger Brossmer, a Crosstown Rivalry Football game hosted at Dignity Health Sports Park on October 24th and some exciting new Career Technical Education pathways at our high schools: Fire Science, taught by the City of Downey’s very own retired Fire Chief and Music and Audio Production supported by a grant through Save The Music.

Thanks to you, the Downey community, Measure K construction has begun at Rio Hondo and Garcia elementaries with Carpenter and Rio San Gabriel starting soon.

I would like to give a special welcome to our youngest students, the Class of 2039. We have close to 800 TK (I call them Tiny Kinder, but it’s really Transitional Kindergarten) students who are 4-year-olds attending our schools. The state of California has rolled back the starting age for children, giving kids who turn 4 on or before September 1st the opportunity to start TK. We are so excited for these little learners to start their journey in Downey Unified that we are building “Kinder Villages” (TK/Kinder specific classroom buildings) at every elementary school campus, thanks to Measure K, to make sure they have an inviting and safe environment for years to come.

And now to the Class of 2026, our 12th graders, may you have an unforgettable Senior year. Work hard on your college apps, keep your focus and finish strong... You’re a product of Downey Unified and you WILL do well in the future!

I would like to give a special thank you to all our teachers who are growing minds every day. Thank you to our classified staff who keep our schools running smoothly, clean and safe. And thank you to our school administrators and district staff who do all the work behind the scenes.

To my Downey community, please keep an eye on our students as they walk to and from school, cross streets and get into their parent’s car. Please have patience with us during construction and know that we appreciate you. I look forward to all the great things this year will bring!

Linda Saldaña
President,
Downey Unified Board of Education