The checks are in the mail! Good news for the 450 DVC students who rely on Cal Grant checks to pay for books, food, housing and transportation.

In an 11th-hour move, the Contra Costa Community College District agreed to pay out the grants itself, said EOPS care director Emily Stone.

“That was a huge, huge thing that the district was willing to front the money without the [state] budget being in, “Stone said.

Rather than wait for the gridlock to be resolved between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators, the district elected to follow the example set by the University of California and the California State University. Both systems elected earlier this month to pay out the Cal Grants themselves.

The checks have been cut and are in the mail, scheduled to be delivered to recipients on time, Stone said.

Brenda Jerez, director of financial aid, said Cal Grants pay up to $1,550 ($775 per semester) for a full-time student. However, the question remains: Did the district make its decision in time to prevent DVC students counting on the grants this year from dropping out?

Jerez said she spoke to a “significant number” who were considering it, but does not know whether they did.

 “A lot of the students resort to applying for student loans and borrowing money from family and friends to stay afloat,” Jerez said.

District officials could not be reached for comment by the Inquirer’s press deadline.