District field of six after‑school vendors draws parents, prompts dispute over Start program participation

The Robla School District hosted presentations from six prospective Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) providers and heard sustained public testimony supporting the existing START provider. Parents said START has built long‑standing local relationships; some parents and a board member raised concerns that START had not been included earlier among recommended vendors and that communications to families about the procurement process were incomplete.

During the meeting, representatives from multiple companies outlined after‑school program structures and staffing models. Presenters included Cindy Lawson (Right at School), representatives for AlphaBEST, Dream Enrichment Classes, Edmo (Eduardo Caballero and Kendra Watkins), Stay After School (founder/CEO identified as Pujosha in the transcript) and Allevo (district partnerships director Chris Kaye). Each described curriculum models, local hiring, training and family engagement strategies. Several vendors emphasized hiring paraprofessionals and college‑age staff from the community, and one vendor noted a retention‑focused internship and career pathway model.

Parents and board members raised process concerns

Multiple parents spoke in favor of START, describing long relationships with the provider and strong staff continuity. Board President (identified in the meeting as President De Lewis) and other trustees expressed frustration about public messages and the sequence of procurement events. The president told the board he was “highly offended” by what he described as START’s communications to parents about summer‑school availability if a contract were not in place — remarks that board colleagues characterized as individual comments during the meeting.

Nut graf: why this matters

ELOP providers run after‑school and intersession programs that families rely on for childcare, enrichment and summer supports. The procurement and contracting decisions determine which organizations operate on district campuses and influence program continuity, staffing and access for families.

Board action

During the business portion, the board approved an agreement (MOU) between the City of Sacramento and Robla School District to continue START‑linked after‑school services funded through the City (the action passed with the board’s approval). Trustees discussed a need to rebuild trust and communication between the district, START and the City after parents received conflicting information. Board members asked the superintendent and staff to improve parent notifications and recommended the district use ParentSquare or other district communications to share recordings and solicit feedback.

Ending

Trustees and district staff called for clearer communication with families and more routine reporting from after‑school vendors. The district asked parents to rewatch presentations posted to YouTube and to share feedback with the superintendent’s office for consideration as contracts move forward.