The Duarte Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a traffic-signal construction agreement with the City of Duarte and Crestfield Townhomes that will install a signal at the intersection near Beardsley Dual Language Academy.

Board members voted 5-0 to approve the agreement. Board Member Diaz made the motion and a fellow board member seconded; the board then conducted a roll-call vote with all members voting in favor.

What the agreement covers: District staff described the location as the intersection of Buena Vista and Cowell (recorded in the record as Cowell/Kellell Way). The signal will provide standard traffic control for the intersection in three directions (north–south on Buena Vista and east on Cowell). A crossing guard currently serves the crossing and staff said the crossing guard will remain after the signal is installed.

Funding: District staff and finance staff said the district’s share of the signal cost is $175,000 and that the funds will come from developer fees, not the district general fund. Staff said the city had required the developer (Crestfield Townhomes) to include this improvement as part of the development approval; the district’s contribution was described as a one-third share of a larger cost package.

Public-safety and history: Board members and staff noted the community had sought a traffic control device at that location for decades. Staff noted Safe Routes to School funding had not been pursued previously and that the crossing guard will continue to support student safety during arrival and dismissal even with the signal in place.

Next steps and notes: The board’s approval allows the city and developer to proceed with construction agreements. Staff did not provide a construction start date on the record and did not specify a contract number. Board members had no further conditions and the motion passed unanimously.