Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Upk Rollout topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pacific Grove Unified proposes blended UPK model using state preschool; district cites funding limits
Summary
Superintendent Arthinda Adamson described a proposed blended universal prekindergarten (UPK) model that adapts the district’s existing state preschool and could be placed on Forest Grove Elementary’s campus, while cautioning the district lacks state expansion funds because it is a basic‑aid district.
Superintendent Arthinda Adamson outlined a proposed blended UPK model that would expand access for children who turn 4 between June 3 and Sept. 1 by adapting the district’s existing state preschool program and locating the expanded program on an elementary campus. "It would be aligned with TK program ... but I want to be clear. You know, it's not a TK program," Adamson said, emphasizing that UPK offerings are developmentally distinct from transitional kindergarten.
What the district is proposing: The district would adapt its current state preschool (currently at David Avenue School) into a no-cost blended UPK pathway and move that program to Forest Grove Elementary within the next two years to create an early childhood hub on an elementary campus. The proposed model would offer a full-day schedule, access to enrichment and before/after care, and free meals, and would be staffed by the district’s existing state preschool teachers and instructional aides (Adamson named Erin Hamadi and Kine Samuels as lead preschool teachers).
Eligibility and timing: Adamson said the rollout follows the state phasing plan that expands TK eligibility and that the 2025–26 window would include children who turn 4 by Sept. 1; the district is specifically proposing two no‑cost options for children with summer birthdays (June 3–Sept. 1) this coming year.
Funding constraints and legal guidance: Adamson and other district staff said the district’s basic‑aid status means it does not receive the same state per‑pupil expansion funds other LCFF districts do. She cited Assembly Bill 130 (2021) as the law that phased in expanded TK eligibility and said the AB language ties expansion to funding. The superintendent said the district has sought legal and fiscal guidance from outside advisers, naming SchoolsFirst (capital advisers) and the law firm Lozano Smith.
Alternate option: If demand exceeds capacity, the district proposed a second option that would deliver UPK via the district’s adult‑education/parent‑education program overseen by Principal Barbara Martinez.
Why this matters: Parents at the meeting asked for a full‑choice approach (opening UPK and TK options to all eligible children). District leaders said they are trying to expand access without incurring additional ongoing staffing costs that would worsen a projected multi‑year budget deficit.
Next steps: The district plans family information nights and one‑on‑one meetings with preregistered summer‑birthday families, and said it is partnering with the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) UPK team to refine delivery models. The proposal was presented for community input; no board action was taken at the meeting.
