Dr. Deneen Guss, County Superintendent of Schools
History of the Unification Petition
History and Timeline
- 2015: Community members filed a petition to unify Greenfield schools
- Citizens petition filed seeking unification of Greenfield Union School District with the Greenfield portion of South Monterey County Joint Union High School District
- Signature verification conducted by Monterey County Elections
- Certification that the petition met requirements
- 2015–2016: County Committee Review
- The County Committee on School District Organization held public hearings, reviewed the petition proposal under state law, and ultimately denied it due to concerns over fiscal impacts and the division of assets and liabilities
- 2016: Appeal to State Board of Education
- Petitioners exercised their statutory right to appeal the County Committee's denial to the State Board of Education
- 2016–2025: The appeal remained delayed for several years
- 2025: Updated Feasibility Study
- Monterey County Office of Education commissioned an updated educational and fiscal feasibility study
- Study revisited the original findings using current financial information rather than the circumstances that existed in 2015/16
- November 2025: State Board of Education Public Hearing
- The State Board held a public hearing and heard testimony from supporters and opponents
- The State Board directed the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization to:
- Evaluate a broader solution that included both Greenfield and King City schools, because reorganizing the South Monteey County Joint Union High School District affected both commuities
- Work collaboratively with all affected school districts
- Develop comprehensive Plans and Recommendations
- Address governance, assets, liabilities, staffing, educational programs, and fiscal issues
- December 2025 - June 2026: County Committee Collaborative Process
- Educational and financial feasibility study analysis
- Public hearings held in Greenfield and King City
- CEQA review and determination completed
- Opt-out resolutions adopted and submitted by five small feeder districts
- Development of comprehensive plans and recommendations
- Approval of plans and recommendations
- Development of Memorandum of Understanding between affected school districts
- Final Plans and Recommendation submitted to State Board of Education
- July 2026: State Board of Education Meeting
- State Board approved and directed County Superintendent of Schools to place proposal before voters at the November 2026 election