State of the City and Schools Address 2026

The City of Duarte held a joint State of the City and Schools Address on May 5, 2026, featuring presentations from city officials and the Duarte Unified School District Board. The meeting highlighted recent and upcoming capital improvement projects including the redevelopment of the former Big Lots property for Sky Zone with parking and facade upgrades, the opening of Byartha Supermarkets in the former Best Buy building creating 200 jobs, and the completion of the Highland Promenade pedestrian safety project. The city also announced plans to begin improvements on the Donald and Bernice Watson Recreation Trail. Public safety initiatives were discussed, noting a 32.9% decrease in Part 1 crimes over three years aided by expanded camera systems and partnerships addressing homelessness. The school district emphasized ongoing investments in classroom technology upgrades, innovative programs, and workforce support to ensure long-term student success. No specific contract awards or procurement motions were detailed, but the projects and initiatives mentioned imply active vendor engagement and capital spending aligned with the Duarte 2035 strategic plan.