NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Monterey County Committee On School District Organization (County Committee) will hold two Public Hearings in accordance with California Education Code Section 35720.5 for the purpose of taking public comment on tentative Plans and Recommendation for Reorganization of South Monterey County Joint Union High School District, Greenfield Union School District, and King City Union School District into two new unified school districts.
At the public hearing, the County Committee will receive and consider testimony by interested parties in support of or opposition to the tentative Plans and Recommendation.
The public hearings before the Monterey County Committee On School District Organization have been scheduled as follows:
Monday, March 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Vista Verde Middle School 1199 Elm Avenue, Greenfield, CA 93927
March 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Chalone Peaks Middle School 667 Meyer Street, King City, CA 93930
The County Committee will adopt tentative Plans and a Recommendation at an upcoming meeting for the reorganization of South Monterey County Joint Union High School District (SMCJUHSD) pursuant to the direction of the California State Board of Education (State Board of Education) under Education Code Section 35720 and based on a developed Feasibility Study (Study) and input from the affected school districts. This Study evaluates the feasibility of dissolving SMCJUHSD, the Greenfield Union School District, and the King City Union School District, and forming two entirely new unified school districts: Greenfield Unified School District (covering the current territory of Greenfield Union School District and the coterminous territory of SMCJUHSD) and King City Unified School District (covering the current territory of King City Union School District and the balance of the territory of SMCJUHSD). Pursuant to the direction of the State Board of Education, the County Committee’s final Plans and Recommendation will be forwarded to the State Board of Education for possible consideration at its July meeting. (Ed. Code 35722.)
For a reorganization plan to be approved by the State Board of Education and submitted to voters, Education Code section 35753 requires that, among other criteria, the proposal promote sound fiscal management, avoid substantial adverse fiscal effects, not create significant school housing costs, be proposed around community identity, and preserve strong educational programs without significant disruption. The Study assesses whether the criteria in Education Code Section 35753 would be substantially met if the two new unified school districts were formed resulting in the dissolution of SMCJUHSD, Greenfield Union School District and King City Union School District.
The County Committee’s tentative Plans and Recommendations including the Feasibility Study will be available on March 13 on the Monterey County Office of Education’s website at: https://www.montereycoe.org/about-us/board-of-education/county-committee. Copies will also be available at the Monterey County Office of Education, 901 Blanco Circle in Salinas, and at each involved school district office.
By Deneen Guss, Ed.D. Monterey County Superintendent of Schools and Secretary to the Monterey County Committee on School District Organization