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Local vendors, farmers and parents praise Palm Springs Unified’s Expanded Learning program and Pack House partnership
Summary
Dozens of local small-business owners, farmers and parent volunteers told the Palm Springs Unified School District board on June 24 that the district’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program and its partnership with the Pack House at Aziz Farms have created summer experiences and economic opportunities for students and local businesses.
Dozens of local vendors, farmers and parents praised the Palm Springs Unified School District’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) and the Pack House at Aziz Farms at the board’s June 24 meeting, saying the program has created “core memories” for students and new business opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
The public-comment period opened with Matt Franz, co-owner of Chill Vibes and Slides, thanking the board “for approving these life changing programs and the experiences that it provides.” Franz said the events organized through ELOP have benefitted his family and business and helped create positive experiences for children in the Coachella Valley.
“My family has been blessed by the opportunity of the ELOP program,” Franz said. “We’re creating core memories for these children.” Several other speakers made similar points: Samantha Ward, owner of Exquisite Desserts Bakery in Palm Desert, described students’ enthusiastic responses to a recent farm field trip; Jody Smith of Cali Rosina said the program let her share cacao and hot chocolate demonstrations outside her shop; and Jeremy Adams of Scoops and Sweets said he’d served more than 4,000 smoothies to students during recent events.
Mark Tadros, owner of the Pack House at Aziz Farms, told the board the farm has hosted thousands of children and local vendors and that the partnership has strengthened the local economy. “We’ve had the opportunity now to have over 12,000 kids visit our farm just this year alone,” Tadros said, and he invited board members to visit remaining “water days” to see the program in action.
Other speakers described the program as creating work and volunteer opportunities for local teens and small-business exposure to new customers. Aaron Aguirre, who runs an inflatable/party business, called the collaboration “a huge blessing” and emphasized that sites are accessible for children with disabilities. Several speakers singled out Amber (the district’s ELOP director) and the Pack House staff for repeatedly supporting and coordinating the events.
Board members who later spoke in the meeting echoed appreciation for the comments and reaffirmed support for ELOP. Several trustees said they wanted to ensure the program remains accessible and that other community partners can participate, but none moved to curtail the program.
The public commenters who addressed ELOP represented a mix of small businesses, farm operators and parent volunteers; they urged continued district support as the program enters the new school year.
The board did not take a formal action on ELOP at the June 24 meeting; the remarks were part of the public-comment record and were acknowledged by trustees during member comments.
