Trustees praise El Monte Rosemead Adult School as a "hidden gem" in district presentation

The El Monte Union High School District board heard a presentation Tuesday evening on the El Monte Rosemead Adult School's career-technical programs and student supports, and trustees repeatedly described MRAS as a "hidden gem." Assistant Principal Oscar Gomez told the board MRAS offers hands-on medical pathways and is working to expand capacity while federal WIOA funding remains delayed.

Gomez said MRAS's programs are mainly funded through the California Adult Education Program and that the district is awaiting a WIOA award letter expected at the end of September. "Most of our funding comes from CAPE, and that's about $12,000,000," Gomez said during the presentation. He also told trustees MRAS is at capacity now and that some programs have waiting lists; pharmacy-tech sections are limited by state rules to about 15'to 20 students per class.

Pharmacy technician instructor Teresa Aitchison described the program structure and accreditation: the course follows ASHP-model curriculum, includes didactic instruction, 108 hours of simulated lab and at least 130 hours of dispensing-site experiential learning. "Our program is accredited through the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists," she said, noting MRAS secured an eight-year accreditation and provides the exam fees and study modules for students.

Student testimonials illustrated outcomes. Matthew Santiago, a recent graduate, said he registered for roughly $90 and passed his national certification quickly, which led to multiple externships and a current position at Kaiser: "I came in right when I turned 18 ... I passed my nationals and eventually got hired at Kaiser Fontana," he said. Maria del Carmen Perez, a midcareer student, described how MRAS helped her retool after job loss and earned scholarship awards for students in her cohort.

Trustees asked staff to provide follow-up details on federal funding and enrollment-boost outreach. Several trustees urged that student success stories and outcome data be used in legislative advocacy: board members said they planned to share student narratives and program metrics with state and federal representatives when requesting fewer funding restrictions or additional support.

Trustee Ricardo Padilla and others suggested more district-level promotion as the program competes with larger neighboring adult schools; trustees also commended MRAS staff for partnerships that place graduates in local pharmacies and hospitals.