[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6061904,"mediaKeyId","3280901-920be9357f65b4bb48054118a0c9eb22","parentId",3280901,"title","Parents urge district to avoid kindergarten–first grade combination class as staff outline enrollment and staffing constraints","audioSeconds",1758,"startMs",2253000,"endMs",4011000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280901-920be9357f65b4bb48054118a0c9eb22&start=2253&end=4011","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280901-920be9357f65b4bb48054118a0c9eb22/thumbnail_2253000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6061904/California/Parents-urge-district-to-avoid-kindergartenfirst-grade-combination-class-as-staff-outline-enrollment-and-staffing-constraints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061904-26d1bac2879a54f471ac7c42410f3e0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651737&Signature=kqsJcVhkKZ~zaxB2dVj5L88YfPD3h~kfQAmCWULl6lRfV-6ow9dHO4x3tI2adyNAOZCFfdLWvLYlqtT6FIHtijUkh-MkP1-b73ImmkR488wq306O2oWB1akMLxEA2BsmRG4e48rCoOoXq-1tUpwfulLNCIsW-FKi1grlpEYzsAeNNUVed5nn996ahfLsOYXKsQCvoWttXLJG0F15xi7PbJoR-kp~5MK~RGLfZjZ5g6FqCS3d95Zr6iGh2GiI9kaDIl9pixP6F-t45mmlnpX16mg6GUPhFlj0AR59OiTxqPIDSqXeHDg4mEHjI4QNYA7Br8VTY-SZrXnhrPH3kaXS7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hueneme Elementary","date","2025-05-13T14:50:46Z","article","Dozens of parents gathered at the board meeting to press the district to avoid creating a kindergarten–first grade combination class at Hollywood Beach School for the 2025–26 school year, arguing that the developmental differences between the grades require separate, age‑appropriate classrooms.

Gloria Cabrera, a parent and former combination‑class teacher, said combination classes are “doable with a lot of help” but warned they create stresses and longer‑term consequences for children. “Our goal is to be proactive to fit in work and effort to prevent the combination class rather than putting that effort into making it,” Cabrera said.

Other parents provided classroom examples and cited research they said shows split‑grade classes can produce lower academic outcomes in the early grades. Allison Nammel, a parent of a TK and a first grader, explained staff turnover at the site and said she feared hiring someone into a complex combo role without sufficient surrounding supports. “We’re hiring into a position that has no support for that person,” she said.

Brooke Kent, another parent, told the board, “We implore you to find the funding necessary to provide 2 separate sections of kindergarten and 2 separate sections of first grade at Hollywood Beach School.” Kevin Kent asked the board not to move forward with a combo class: “Please don't move forward with the combo class.”

District staff presented an informational report requested by the board. Mr. Castano (staff member) reviewed 10‑year enrollment trends and site‑level considerations. The district reported 6,690 students enrolled this year — a decline of about 300 students from last year and roughly 1,700 students over the past decade. Staff said program mixes (dual language, sheltered immersion), grade‑level enrollment and state requirements affect staffing determinations.

District staff projected about eight combination classes for 2025–26 across the district (three at Bard, one at Beach, two at Hathaway, one at Haycox and one at Parkview) and said the district has 90 TK–5 general education classrooms overall and 21 existing special‑education combination classrooms. Staff also said eliminating the projected eight combination classes would cost about $1,300,000.

Staff explained state requirements that influence staffing: a grade‑span average for TK–3 of 24:1 and full TK implementation next year requiring TK classrooms staffed at a 20:2 adult‑to‑child ratio (one teacher and one paraeducator). The board and staff discussed screening‑based variability within classrooms and the need to plan assignments thoughtfully; pedagogical remarks emphasized alignment of California State Standards and the role of teacher quality and emotional classroom climate in student engagement.

The item was informational; board members did not vote on combination‑class placements at the meeting. The board asked staff to continue analysis and bring site‑level staffing determinations back as enrollment solidifies in August.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HESD Governing Board Meeting 5/12/25","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of parents and several teachers urged the board not to form a combined kindergarten–first grade class at Hollywood Beach School; district staff presented enrollment trends, projected combination‑class counts and the estimated cost to eliminate projected combos.","taxTitle","Hueneme Elementary, School Districts, California","taxId",38263,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061909,"District arts coordinator highlights expanded visual and performing arts partnerships and student showcases",430,1554000,1984000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280901-920be9357f65b4bb48054118a0c9eb22&start=1554&end=1984","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280901-920be9357f65b4bb48054118a0c9eb22/thumbnail_1554000.jpg","/articles/6061909/California/District-arts-coordinator-highlights-expanded-visual-and-performing-arts-partnerships-and-student-showcases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061909-995f555c6fcaf0d4358e8ceaa0b0c06f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651737&Signature=XMUKhJNApLN52mn4xsIYMMZrOXIeTSikO3L2E3rzqF6RSQrkBd-GurOYET86rE1girUtiXswP5Y76nTAIQPgYl7Sr4LY54B6wJJFall7N5r68Ce8yBKc6kJrg0M2CSxmsbKNVyW3~wHE75csZZPnzhMRqwY1u0akjr935q85OBtnY~K0MS8aQUWYAL32m2uugPn7k67UWrCo-mqDOfT7WVRrwUN-urH743z8BIJXcwg-fc8nF~wPaG2nJO94UJIzpIV7PYVY1ILwB0w7ljzBntI39Mru6rJTGSrfbBsQ1mBmhdqPbAlEXRovkGv~hXJwFituVPhe9EySwQADClrJRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Karina Culvert, the district's visual and performing arts coordinator, told the board the program expanded partnerships, field trips and in‑school offerings this year and that next year the program anticipates growing venues and continued community collaboration.

“From our vibrant classroom activities to live performances and museum visits, it has been a transformative year for all of our students,” Culvert said, introducing teachers who brought student work to display.

Culvert said this was her first year in the coordinator role and thanked school leaders and staff for support. She named several partners and activities: a New West Symphony performance at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center for fourth graders; a live Shakespeare performance at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza for third and fifth graders; Getty visits for sixth graders; a Nutcracker performance for third grade; and hands‑on visits to the Santa Paula Art Museum for second graders. Dance partners listed included Hip Hop Mindset, Dance for Wellness and Breathe Foundation for Artists.

Junior high teachers presented samples of student work. One teacher urged the board to “celebrate their growth, not just as students, but as true artists,” and school leaders said the program has expanded both in‑day and after‑school opportunities including theater, band, mariachi, dance and visual art.

The district circulated a brochure summarizing the program and noted logistical support from site principals who provided classroom and storage space. The item was informational; no board action was recorded on the arts presentation.","The district's new visual and performing arts coordinator described an expanding arts program, community partnerships and student performances and exhibits, and introduced junior high teachers who presented student work to the board.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061913,"Elementary principal reports large year‑over‑year gains in early‑grade math after UCLA partnership",748,306000,1054000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280901-920be9357f65b4bb48054118a0c9eb22&start=306&end=1054","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280901-920be9357f65b4bb48054118a0c9eb22/thumbnail_306000.jpg","/articles/6061913/California/Elementary-principal-reports-large-yearoveryear-gains-in-earlygrade-math-after-UCLA-partnership","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061913-d1c89c7075340d9d4ebfadfb8b4f3269/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651737&Signature=NeE80IcbxiuDrS~ePlYInySuEIVRjAOxzhJsCjOOJ04R6Dfo5fYtMlZh4~6OQ7YDQ8OzVq1eQIrBPsxZuEynGbcqIXkifuvPt-MNFUcEkHrDYZpOlond-L7wenKJEmMkDSQUBYZo7ACogmzTj-gWddCGK5-~6jK5dmwcaCoLfnrOY2LQpgnpP8Skx0R5qCWS1V9dyFdPMxMAyCOLhHZQv1VzMz94BJUbj6FRV600ro73ZuLIXvaBAsG7nqL6g7r2AItJecdCVyGQnyXtILcHu4WqhgyNOuDBxqTsTQCg9Sl88lv8W2J-VK6wK6SAnzmqAGEM5oLbqhgHnXw1FT~lNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The principal (name not specified) told the school board that students at the school showed steady, measurable gains in early‑grade math over the school year after a district partnership with the UCLA Mathematics Project and a set of schoolwide instructional practices.

In a presentation during the board's meeting, the principal said kindergarten students moved from nearly 75 percent in the highest‑risk category in the fall to 59 percent in the low‑risk Tier 1 group by spring. “This growth is a testament to our students' persistence and our educators' focus and support,” the principal said.

The presentation outlined grade‑by‑grade shifts using a three‑tier risk framework (Tier 3 high risk, Tier 2 moderate risk, Tier 1 low risk) and a line graph tracking changes from fall to winter to spring. The speaker described similar improvements for first graders (Tier 1 rising from 22 percent to 37 percent by spring) and for upper grades where Tier 1 percentages increased and Tier 3 decreased for several grades.

The principal credited intensive professional learning and coaching with the UCLA Mathematics Project, including lab days, classroom demonstrations, and real‑time coaching. The presentation said the school completed three lab dates with two more scheduled (June 2 and June 9), each involving a small cross‑grade teacher team, a classroom demonstration and immediate coaching.

Instructional practices highlighted in the presentation included classroom use of erasable whiteboards (referred to as “white books”), counting collections as a hands‑on number sense strategy, cross‑grade collaboration, and a plan for a shared counting‑collections materials library. The principal said those practices helped teachers differentiate, increase engagement and let students revise thinking without fear of mistakes.

The presenter acknowledged continued variability within grades and noted winter brought smaller movements before larger spring gains. The presentation concluded with a short celebratory video and a statement that it was the principal's first year in the role. The item was presented as information; no board action on the presentation itself was taken at the meeting.","A school presentation to the district board highlighted broad improvements in math risk categories for TK–5 students after professional learning with the UCLA Mathematics Project and classroom practices such as counting collections and use of erasable “white books.”","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents urge district to avoid kindergarten–first grade combination class as staff outline enrollment and staffing constraints

District arts coordinator highlights expanded visual and performing arts partnerships and student showcases

Elementary principal reports large year‑over‑year gains in early‑grade math after UCLA partnership