Parent tells board the new inclusion TK at Arnold Elementary lacks staff and supports

At the Sept. 11 Cypress School District board meeting, a parent of a child in the new inclusion TK program at Arnold Elementary told trustees the class is under-resourced and urged the district to add specialized staff.

"This program does not meet the needs of all students, especially those with higher needs and within IEP," parent Marielka Liron Guzman said, describing her son Archie’s experience over the first five weeks. She said the program was described to parents as staffed with a general education teacher, a teacher assistant and a special-education paraeducator, plus a special-education teacher rotating among classrooms, but that the reality has left higher-needs students without adequate supports.

Guzman invoked federal IDEA protections: "Every child with a disability is entitled to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment," she said, and asked the district to consider adding a full-time BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and psychologist to the program.

Why it matters: Inclusion TK programs aim to provide early access to general education while meeting special-education needs; parents said insufficient staffing undermines individualized supports and could affect both students with IEPs and their peers.

Board response and next steps: Trustees thanked the parent for the feedback. At the meeting, trustees and staff did not adopt any immediate staffing changes; Guzman requested formation of a parent committee to work with the district on improvements, and staff said they would follow up after the meeting.

What speakers said: Guzman said teachers and principals are "doing the best they can," but that staffing and resources are "simply not enough with the variety of complex needs." She recommended a full-time psychologist or BCBA be an "essential part of the program." The parent also noted Arnold shares a psychologist with another school, which she said reduces availability for students.

What remains unresolved: The district did not commit to hiring or reallocating staff during the Sept. 11 meeting. Trustees and staff acknowledged the concern and indicated they would explore parent engagement and staffing options.

Ending: The parent asked trustees to consider a district-level response and to include parent input on fixes; staff will follow up outside the meeting.