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Beacon Center staff and Chinatown community urge board to clarify DCYF contract termination
Summary
Several Chinatown Beacon Center staff and parents told the board that DCYF terminated Community Educational Services' Beacon contract, resulting in layoffs and uncertainty about the Beacon Center at Gordon J. Lau Elementary; speakers urged the superintendent to follow up and secure continued services in Chinatown.
Speakers representing the Chinatown Beacon Center and community appealed to the board during public comment on Sept. 9 to investigate and act after the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) pulled funding from Community Educational Services (CES).
Deborah Lee, associate director for the Chinatown Beacon Center, said she received a layoff notice Aug. 14 after DCYF terminated the Beacon contract with CES. Lee told the board the Beacon Initiative steering committee and local stakeholders had been involved in the decision and that school staff at Gordon J. Lau Elementary remain committed to keeping the beacon services at the school. "Despite the funding being pulled from CES, the school staff and administration have remained committed to ensuring their quality programming and services continue for youth and families in Chinatown," Lee said.
Jenny Arcela Gonzalez (statement read by a colleague) and Eric Chen described layoffs among longstanding Beacon staff, asserted failures of communication by CES, and asked the superintendent and commissioners for a full review of facts and outreach to principals and community-based organizations. Gonzalez said CES had laid off "60 plus years of youth work experience within a 30 day period" and urged the board to examine the impact on after‑school services.
Board members acknowledged the testimony and indicated Commissioner Yi had asked the superintendent for follow-up. The superintendent and staff were asked to report back with clarifying information about DCYF’s decision and the status of Beacon services at Gordon J. Lau Elementary.
Outcome: Public comments recorded and board requested staff follow-up; no formal board action taken during the meeting.
