Public Hearings: Proposed Territory Transfer from Spreckels Union School District to Washington Union School District

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Hearings: Proposed Territory Transfer from Spreckels Union School District to Washington Union School District

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization will hold two Public Hearings in accordance with California Education Code Section 35705 for the purpose of taking public comment on the petition entitled, “Petition for School District Boundary Adjustment from Spreckels Union School District to Washington Union School District” filed pursuant to Ed. Code Section 35700, subdivision (a).

At the public hearings, the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization shall receive and consider testimony by interested parties in support of or opposition to the Petition.  The Petition proposes a transfer of parcels from the Spreckels Union School District to the Washington Union School District, including parcels located in Toro Sunshine, Serra Village, and the adjacent Monterey-Salinas Highway corridor. 

Attached is a map outlining the proposed transfer area and list of parcel numbers.

The public hearings before the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization have been scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Spreckels Elementary School
Fourth Street and Hatton Ave., Spreckels, CA 93962

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
San Benancio Middle School
43 San Benancio Road, Salinas, CA 93908

California Education Code Section 35705.5 requires that the County Committee on School District Organization make available to the public and to the governing boards affected by the petition a description of the petition including:

1. The rights of the employees in the affected districts to continued employment.

Not applicable to the current proposal.  

2. The local control funding formula allocation pursuant to Section 42238.02, as implemented by Section 42238.03, per pupil, for each affected district and the effect of the petition, if approved, on that allocation.

The territory proposed for transfer consists of parcels in the Toro Sunshine, Serra Village, and adjacent Monterey-Salinas Highway corridor area. The exact number of public school students residing in this territory is currently being verified by the Monterey County Office of Education. The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) allocation, pursuant to Education Code Section 42238.02, as implemented by Section 42238.03, provides per-pupil funding for each affected district (Spreckels Union School District and Washington Union School District). The precise impact of the proposed transfer on LCFF allocations will depend on the number of students affected and will be further analyzed by the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization. A detailed fiscal impact assessment will be made available to the public and governing boards as part of the County Committee’s review process.

3. Whether the school districts involved will be governed, in part, by provisions of a city charter and, if so, in what way.

Not applicable to the current petition.

4. Whether the governing boards of any proposed new district will have five or seven members.

Not applicable to the current petition.

5. A description of the territory or districts in which the election, if any, will be held.

The area proposed for transfer is an inhabited region encompassing approximately 197 parcels, including the communities of Toro Sunshine, Serra Village, and an adjacent neighborhood along the Monterey-Salinas Highway corridor. A detailed map and list of parcel numbers are attached to this notice. 

If the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization approves the petition and an election is required pursuant to Education Code Section 35708, the election would be held within the boundaries of the proposed transfer territory, which includes the aforementioned areas. The decision to hold an election and the precise boundaries of the election territory will be determined by the County Committee following public hearings and further review.

6. Where the proposal is to create two or more districts, whether the proposal will be voted on as a single proposition.

Not applicable to the current petition; the petition does not propose the creation of any new district(s). 

7. Whether the governing board of any new district will have trustee areas and, if so, whether the trustees will be elected by only the voters of that trustee area or by voters of the entire school district.

Not applicable to the current petition.
 

8. A description of how the property, obligations, and bonded indebtedness of existing districts will be divided.

The area proposed for transfer contains no public school property or buildings.  The plans and recommendations of the County Committee on School District Organization would stipulate the division of any other funds or obligations (except bond indebtedness) affected by the proposed transfer.  

If the territory is transferred, it will drop any liability for outstanding bonded indebtedness of the district of which it was formerly a part and assume its proportionate share of the outstanding bonded indebtedness of the district of which it becomes a part. [Ed Code Section 35575]

Provisions for the exchange of property tax revenue are set forth in Revenue and Taxation Code Section 99 (i).

9. A description of when the first governing board of any new district will be elected and how terms of office for each new trustee will be determined.

Not applicable to the current petition; this petition does not propose the creation of any new district(s). 

By: Dr. Deneen Guss
County Superintendent of Schools
and Secretary to the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization

August 29, 2025