Ed Charles, director on the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District board, and Catherine Vasquez, Water Resources Analyst, described water‑education programs available to Bassett Unified teachers and students on Sept. 23.

Ed Charles, who said he is a Bassett High alum and a director for the water district, introduced the district programs and emphasized support for Bassett Unified projects. Catherine Vasquez told the board the water district’s offerings include a water education grant program that allows teachers to apply for up to $1,000 for K–12 classroom or school projects and that applications are available now with an Oct. 31 deadline.

Vasquez summarized additional programs: the Discovery Cube in Los Angeles provides free water‑education assembly programs for K–7 classes and the water district offers transportation grants to cover bus and museum admission costs; a watershed restoration volunteer program (in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service) will run volunteer tree plantings and cleanups on Oct. 18 and Nov. 8, 8 a.m.–noon; the annual Being WaterWise student art contest is open (deadline April 13); and the Metropolitan Water District’s “Water Engineering for Good” online STEM competition for middle and high school students will reopen in January 2026. Vasquez left printed flyers and business cards for district staff and attendees.

The board thanked the presenters and no board action was taken; district staff were invited to share the materials with school site staff and teachers.