MONROVIA — Just before Monday night’s meeting of the Monroe-Gregg School Board adjourned, district superintendent Trent Provo took a moment to read a prepared statement addressing rumors and online criticism of the district in regards to its custodial staff.
Provo acknowledged earlier in the meeting that the district let go six members of Monrovia Elementary School’s custodial staff at the end of July due to cuts in the district’s Operations budget as a result of recent legislation passed by state lawmakers.
Following these layoffs, the elementary school’s night custodian resigned, leaving administrators in a bind as to how to get the school cleaned at night. Provo said the school has been cleaned at night by the high school’s custodians after their day shifts, as well as by a bus driver who volunteered to help.
But, Provo said, the district needed a long-term solution to this problem. Ultimately, this involved the board approving a contract with Eclipse Staffing and Security to provide nighttime custodial services at the elementary school. The district will pay a rate of $23.50 an hour, 40 hours a week to Eclipse’s staff, which Provo said will be cheaper than it would have been to retain the district’s previous custodial staff.
The custodial staff layoffs and resignations have created a stir in Monrovia, and several social media posts in various community chats have harshly criticized Provo and the district.
“People are saying (firing custodians) was our plan all along,” Provo said. “That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Provo elaborated on the district’s motives for the layoffs in a prepared statement he read at the end of the meeting.
“With the passage of Senate Enrolled Act 1, and shrinking cash balances in the Education and Operations funds, the Monroe-Gregg School District has had some very difficult choices to make this summer,” Provo began.
“I would like to quickly address some of the reactions to these necessary reductions (in staff),” Provo continued. “I’m told that district leadership is being accused of ulterior motives and getting hidden agendas accomplished with these reductions.
“These were not easy decisions and they were not taken lightly,” Provo said. “Please trust that these decisions were not made with any intentions other than reducing expenses in our Education and Operations fund.
“I’ve been told that there have been some personal attacks on social media toward some of our staff members,” he continued. “I believe some of this stems from the belief that certain staff members have a great influence over me, or that they are simply running the corporation in place of me. Once again, nothing could be further from the truth. If you want to blame someone for any of the decisions being made in this corporation, please blame me.”
“Please understand the decisions we have made concerning reductions and spending are very difficult,” Provo went on. “Unfortunately, there may be more reductions coming once we see the effects of SEA 1.”
Facility study update
A large portion of Monday’s meeting consisted of a presentation delivered by representatives from architectural firm Schmidt & Associates updating the board on the progress of a facility study the district tasked the firm to perform earlier this year. The purpose of the study is to assess how the district can best manage the anticipated growth the town of Monrovia is expected to achieve over the next decade.
The firm’s representatives have nearly completed the study, and tentatively plan to present full recommendations to the board next month on how to best utilize the district’s properties.
On Monday, the representatives simply provided an overview of potential projects Monroe-Gregg could complete, ranging from upgrading current spaces to constructing entirely new buildings.
If the district were to heed all of the firm’s recommendations, project costs at the elementary school would total about $5 million, costs at the middle school would total around $8 million, and costs at the high school would be about $22 million.
Additionally, the firm recommended projects for the district’s athletic and transportation facilities, each costing into the millions of dollars.
It is currently unclear how many of the projects the district will ultimately be able to afford to complete, though it will likely have to build new properties in the near future. Monrovia Elementary is already at full capacity, and if the town’s growth expectations are correct, the district will probably have to build an additional elementary school.
2026 Budget
The board held a public hearing over the proposed budget for 2026. Along with the budget, the board discussed the district’s capital projects and bus replacement plans.
The proposed budget outlined at the meeting consists of four funds: Education, Operations, Debt Service and Rainy Day. The Education fund is estimated at $12,423,406; the Operations fund is budgeted at $4,353,083; Debt Service is estimated at $5,977,816; and the Rainy Day fund comes in at $500,000.
The total estimated budget for 2026 is $23,254,305.
Capital project plans the district hopes to complete include refreshing the district’s Chromebooks ($200,000), replacing security cameras district wide ($250,000) and installing a new chiller at Monrovia Elementary School ($650,000).
Monroe-Gregg plans to replace two school buses in 2026, both of which cost $165,000 for a total of $330,000. The district plans to replace four more in 2027, costing an estimated $620,000.
In other news
- The board recognized four students of the month for September. Sterling Pruitt and Willow Evans of Monrovia Elementary, Emmanuel Babajide from Monrovia Middle School and Aubrie Pierson from Monrovia High School were all awarded at the meeting with a plaque and a restaurant gift card.
- The board approved opening a Monrovia Virtual Academy for 6-12 grade students. Students who enroll will “routinely attend synchronous (live) activities, check school email daily, communicate actively with instructors and learning team, and complete assigned work,” according to the virtual program proposal in the board packet.
The board voted 4-1 to offer the program, with board member Jack Elliott opposed.
The next meeting of the Monroe-Gregg school board will take place Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Office, 135 S. Chestnut St.
