6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Chautauqua Hall in Pacific Grove has been well used and loved from its days as a gathering spot and winter storage for the P.G. Methodist Retreat since 1881 all the way to today. It was named a California Historical Landmark over 50 years ago and, as of Jan. 12, made the National Register of Historic Places. The hall joins six other structures within the city on the National Register: Asilomar Conference Grounds; Point Pinos Lighthouse; Centrella Hotel; Gosby House Inn; Trimmer Hill, a Queen Anne style house previously home to P.G.’s first mayor, Oliver Smith Trimmer; and the F.L. Buck House, now a hotel named The Charles Pacific Grove. The city acquired the hall in 1922 and over the years has relied on fundraising for large renovation projects, which is why in 2024 the Friends of Chautauqua Hall was formed, under the umbrella of the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove. The building is in need of multiple repairs and updates to make it usable for modern events. Some of the improvements needed include paint and a renovated kitchen and bathrooms. The Friends began a fundraising campaign while the city simultaneously applied to have the hall added to the National Register. Recently the volunteer group announced they had raised $700,000, toward a goal of $1 million. On Jan. 21, the P.G. City Council voted 6-0 in favor of contracting with Hunter Porter Eldridge Architecture to draw up plans, not to exceed $176,600. The council also approved a funding agreement with the Heritage Society whereby the city will pay contractors and then be reimbursed by the nonprofit. Historic Designation Chautauqua Hall earns national recognition as plans to renovate move forward. By Pam Marino While the state’s proposed funding for K-12 education has reached record levels for the upcoming school year, $125.5 billion for schools and community colleges, many school districts are projecting red balances in the near future. One-time funding, declining enrollment and increased costs are putting a strain on their budgets. “We’re losing revenue year after year,” says Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh, noting the district loses 50-70 students every year, and the district is funded by the state based on attendance. Keeping the same level of services and personnel would put MPUSD below the requirement of having 3 percent of its expenditures in reserves, as required by the state, within the next three or four years. To prevent this, Diffenbaugh proposed a first draft of a plan for $4 million cuts on Tuesday, Jan. 27 to the MPUSD board. It calls for the elimination or reduction of 42 fulltime positions, including cutting 4.6 school psychologists and nine mental health professionals. The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed staffing reductions on Feb. 24. According to the Monterey County Office of Education, out of the 24 school districts in Monterey County, only four—Carmel Unified, Salinas City Elementary, South Monterey County Joint Union High and Washington Union School District— are not facing a deficit in the 20252026 school year. (WUSD’s net positive is just $12,333.) The three districts with the highest projected deficits are Alisal Union ($40.5 million), Salinas Union High ($29.8 million) and MPUSD ($13.7 million). To address the shortfalls, leaders are making tough decisions. Salinas City Elementary School District decided to pause inter-district transfers, meaning they no longer release students in their jurisdiction to attend school in other districts, unless it is required by education code (for reasons such as victims of bullying or maximum capacity). Last year, Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s board approved cutting 160 positions, including teachers, counselors and special education assistants. Washington Union’s board decided to shrink the number of students, meaning its funding model shifts from state reimbursement to property taxes (joining the only two local districts, Carmel and Pacific Grove Unified, that are funded by property taxes). To get there, the district is phasing out its interdistrict transfer program, which accounts for 44 percent of its enrollment, or 327 students. The end result will mean more money per child at WUSD. During the 2023-24 school year the district spent $11,300 per pupil, the lowest in the county; with the new funding method its spending would be similar to districts in South County, about $15,600. “It’s a very difficult decision. Obviously it has huge impacts to our school community, but if we’re going to be able to sustain this district financially over the long term it was a necessary step,” WUSD Superintendent Gina Uccelli says. Interdistrict transfer students who are currently enrolled will be able to remain at Washington Union through the highest grade available at their current school, meaning third, fifth or eighth grade. San Benancio Middle Schools students arrive for the school day. Washington Union includes three schools serving K-8 students along the Highway 68 corridor. Math Problem Faced with declining student enrollment, school districts confront growing deficits. By Celia Jiménez Plans for the 145-year-old Chautauqua Hall include renting it out for weddings and other events, but first it needs an updated kitchen and bathrooms, among other improvements. “It’s a very difficult decision.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
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