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After‑school BLAST demand surges at Chico Unified; wait lists double despite new slots
Summary
District officials told the board BLAST enrollment rose from roughly 991 (pre‑2022) to about 1,368 and that the BLAST wait list doubled even after the district added seats; staffing turnover and reliance on college‑age leaders limit short‑term growth.
Chico Unified officials told the board on Sept. 4 that demand for expanded‑learning after‑school programs (BLAST) has outpaced the district's capacity despite ongoing growth in seats and staffing.
"Our vision for expanded learning is to create a safe and supportive environment for students, to achieve academic success and reach their greatest potential as a student and a citizen," Callan, the district's expanded learning administrator, said during a presentation on program structure, staffing and enrollment.
Callan said BLAST now operates at all 12 elementary schools and all three junior highs and includes before‑school care, spring and summer camps, tutoring and enrichment activities. The program partners with CARD to supply recreation leaders; the district employs credentialed teacher coordinators at each elementary site and assistant coordinators where needed.
On enrollment, Callan reported that total BLAST participation rose from roughly 991 students before 2022 to about 1,368 currently. She also told the board that "even adding the 200 spots, our wait list doubled," describing a pattern of rapid growth in demand despite added capacity.
Board members asked about staffing and constraints. Callan and others said the program's staffing capacity is constrained by recruitment and turnover: many frontline CARD leaders are college students whose class schedules change, producing roughly a 50% annual turnover among leaders. The district noted that to expand capacity the district would need additional credentialed teacher coordinators, more CARD leaders and possibly extra recreation coordinators.
Callan emphasized enrollment‑priority rules: students identified under the McKinney‑Vento Act and children in foster care receive wait‑list priority under CDE guidance.
Board members and trustees raised concern the wait lists may include families who have left the district because they could not secure care; staff said the district runs a query at the beginning of the year to remove departed families but does not update the list monthly unless a family comes up in lottery order.
District leaders said they will pursue more leaders, consider creative funding and staffing approaches, and return with more granular percentage breakouts by site to aid facilities and staffing planning.
