East Whittier City School District board approves budget revision, attendance resolution and routine items

The East Whittier City School District Board of Education on Sept. 9 approved a budget revision to incorporate newly announced transitional kindergarten (TK) funding, adopted Resolution No. 4-25/26 proclaiming September 2025 as Attendance Awareness Month, approved the district's consolidated application for Spring 2026 grant funding, and passed its consent agenda, including a direction to rebid a failed asphalt replacement contract.

Board members moved and seconded the routine items during the meeting. The consolidated application was described by district staff as "just the annual item that we bring that gives us the opportunity to apply for these funds" (staff comment during the motion). The board then voted to approve the application.

The budget revision reflects an additional TK "add-on" that the district received after the governor's revised budget was adopted in June, an accounting change staff said provides extra revenue per ADA for TK students. "This budget revision reflects the additional TK money that we get per ADA for all of our TK students," a district finance official told the board.

On attendance, the board adopted Resolution No. 4-25/26 designating September 2025 as Attendance Awareness Month. Board members discussed the balance between encouraging attendance and not sending sick students to school, and noted the proclamation's definition of chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of school days).

The consent agenda passed with routine approvals. As part of consent staff reported that a contractor for an asphalt replacement project withdrew and the district will rebid the work because the contractor could not perform at the bid price; staff said rebidding better preserves summer timing and operations because work would otherwise be required during the school year. Staff also said the district will provide a new report showing purchases funded by developer fees and bond dollars to meet Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) documentation requests.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Board minutes (June 11, 2025): Approved. Recorded votes in discussion included Mr. Aparicio (yes), Ms. Carrera (yes), Mr. Utiaga (abstain). Outcome: approved. - Approval of Board minutes (Aug. 11, 2025): Approved. Board recorded multiple yes votes during roll call; outcome: approved. - Consolidated Application (Spring 2026): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (recorded yes votes include Mr. Aparicio, Mr. Utiaga, Mr. Baird, Ms. Carrera; chair also voted yes). - Resolution No. 4-25/26 (Attendance Awareness Month): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (recorded yes votes include Ms. Carrera, Mr. Baird, Mr. Aparicio and others; chair voted yes). - Budget revision (recognizing TK add-on revenue): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (recorded yes votes include Mr. Baird, Mr. Aparicio, Mr. Utiaga, Ms. Carrera; chair voted yes). - Consent agenda (K-3 through K-13, including withdrawal of bid for asphalt replacement and developer fee/bond reporting): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.

Board members and staff emphasized that several items were routine and intended to allow the district to pursue grant funding and to ensure compliance with county oversight. Board members also thanked staff for updated ADA and attendance figures and for bringing forward a clearer reporting process for bond and developer fee spending.

Less-critical matters and next steps included staff direction to rebid the asphalt project and to provide the new bond/developer-fee spending report to comply with LACOE review. The board set no additional formal deadlines beyond the normal procurement and rebid timelines.