District outlines possible $1.5 million in one-time state funds and warns of budget uncertainty

At the El Monte City School District board meeting on March 31, business services staff walked the board through the state budget timeline and identified both opportunities and risks for next year’s district finances.

"The school district operates on a fiscal year that starts July 1st and ends June 30th," the business services presenter said, then explained the governor’s January budget proposal and the May revise before the state enacts its final budget in June. The presenter said the district could "qualify possibly for a little over $1.5 million of one-time funds" for math coaching if the proposal is included in the final budget.

The presenter also flagged a reporting complication: tax‑filing delays in Los Angeles County shift some revenue reporting and mean the state will have less complete data when adopting the budget in June. That could leave districts "flying a little a bit blind," the update said, and underscores the value of holding reserves.

Separately, Dr. Garcia told the board the recent presidential executive order directing a review or potential shutdown process of the U.S. Department of Education "provides very few specifics" and that a full closure would require congressional action; the district is monitoring the situation because Title I, IDEA and Pell-related funding could be affected.

Why it matters: The potential one-time funds could be used for math coaching at qualifying schools (the presenter estimated about $165,000 per school for six schools), but final approvals depend on state actions in June. The board was advised to plan conservatively given federal and state uncertainty.

What’s next: Staff will continue to track state and federal developments and report back as more details become available.