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El Monte board approves expanded green-schoolyard contract, hears state and federal funding update
Summary
The El Monte City School District board approved a resolution to expand the scope and budget of a CalFire-funded green schoolyard project and received updates on state and federal funding that affect classroom programs and one-time grants.
The El Monte City School District Board of Education on Aug. 18 approved a resolution to expand work on green schoolyards at three campuses and heard cabinet reports on federal and state funding that affect district programs.
District business services staff presented a resolution (No. 252604) to increase the construction contract for the CalFire-backed green schoolyard program — covering Cortata, Sherpser and Gidley schools — from the original $6 million to as much as $7.5 million. Mr. Herrera said the increase responds to an owner-initiated expansion of scope to add shade structures, modernize playgrounds, update irrigation and repair extensive asphalt needs on the Cortata campus.
"As the designs developed, the scope of work increased, and it made sense to leverage grant and bond funds jointly to accomplish the projects," Mr. Herrera said.
Superintendent Dr. Garcia told trustees the district avoided an immediate loss of federal education funds after a temporary freeze over the summer, and that federal disbursements to California ultimately resumed. She also flagged state-level issues: roughly $2 billion in Proposition 98 funding continues to be underappropriated and another $2 billion has been deferred, she said, and noted the state set a 2.3% cost-of-living adjustment for K–12 funding.
Dr. Garcia highlighted one-time state funding the district will receive for student support professional development — about $2.1 million for the district — and said a separate proposal for math-coach funding that would have provided roughly $1 million to the district did not survive the final budget.
The board moved several consent items and resolutions later in the meeting, including observance of Hispanic Heritage Month and confirmations that textbooks and instructional materials meet state sufficiency standards for 2025–26.
Votes approving minutes, the consent agenda and the resolutions were recorded as carried; the transcript notes an individual voice saying "I opposed" during roll call for some motions, but the meeting record as presented does not include a clear final roll-call tally for each item. Mrs. Mendes Garcia was absent for the meeting.
The district plans to complete most green schoolyard work within the next 9–12 months, with staff citing a March 2026 completion target for the project elements currently underway.
