Parents and students press Monrovia Unified to keep Village after‑school on campus as board approves staffing MOU

Dozens of parents, staff and students urged the Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education on Wednesday to keep the district’s Village after‑school program on campus, warning that moving the program off‑site could reduce students’ access to sports, tutoring and on‑campus supports and might jeopardize grant funding.

Sorie Goodwin, a Clifton Middle School site manager, told the board she had seen documents showing that about 60% of Clifton Village enrollees this year were seventh and eighth graders and said the Village program “exists because of the ACES grant,” which specifically supports those grades. “Eliminating Village at the middle schools is not an equitable decision,” she said.

Other speakers — including parents, students and former participants — described how on‑campus Village made it possible to attend practices, receive drop‑in tutoring and avoid the cost or logistical barriers of off‑site providers. Amy Feng, a Clifton parent, said on‑campus Village gave her family the flexibility to attend school events and athletic practices without rearranging work schedules.

District staff told the board the item under consideration was a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Monrovia Unified and CSEA Chapter 20 that allows the district to use the Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills to supplement after‑school staffing where needed. Staff said the agreement is intended to preserve Village staffing first and use Boys & Girls Club staff only to fill gaps, and that it includes commitments to continue recruiting Village employees.

Board members spent extensive time pressing staff on operational details: which sites would be served by Village vs. Boys & Girls Club, how the district would preserve parity in offerings (sports, music, tutoring) across school sites, and whether moving a program off campus would mean loss of services. Staff repeatedly said the district must meet grant requirements by creating an umbrella MUSD standard so comparable core components are provided regardless of provider.

The board voted unanimously to approve the MOU, 5‑0. The vote authorizes the district to use Boys & Girls Club staffing to supplement the Village program while continuing to seek Village hires and requires the district to avoid co‑locating Village and Boys & Girls Club staff at the same site. Several trustees directed staff to return to the board with clearer site assignments and a more specific plan at the next meeting so families know where programs will be located next year.

Supporters and students told the board they want to see on‑campus programming preserved. Sixth‑grader Emma Fang said Village gave her a “supportive and awesome atmosphere” and asked trustees to “please reconsider” moving Village off campus. Eric Randall, a parent, urged the board to treat pool and facilities investments strategically and to view any Measure dollars for an aquatic center as an opportunity to attract partnerships and revenue, not merely to make short‑term repairs.

Next steps: staff said the MOU will be posted as part of the district’s agenda materials, and board members asked that the district provide site‑by‑site recommendations at the next business meeting so families have clarity before summer.