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Parents tell La Mesa‑Spring Valley board lottery for afterschool enrollment creates hardship
Summary
Multiple parents urged the board to reconsider a new annual lottery for Extended School Services (ESS), saying it removes predictability for working families and that notification dates (April 3 for school year; May 1 for summer) come too late to secure alternatives.
Several parents used the public‑comment period on Feb. 3 to urge the La Mesa‑Spring Valley School District to revisit a new lottery‑based enrollment process for Extended School Services (ESS).
Megan Winters, a Murdoch Elementary parent, said the program previously operated on a first‑come, first‑served basis with priority criteria that allowed working families to plan reliably. "Under the new policy, that reliability no longer exists," she said, adding that families could be left without child care for summer because summer enrollment opens March 23 but families would not be notified until May 1.
Commander Joe Lewis, who said he is on active duty, asked the board to reinstate prioritization for active‑duty military families. Anna Stone, a Murdoch parent and PTA president, described the change as an equity and planning problem and specifically requested that prior enrollment be weighted more heavily and that notification timelines be moved earlier.
Staff response and next steps: trustees said they heard the concerns; staff confirmed notification timelines mentioned by commenters and indicated the district will refer questions for follow‑up and consider public feedback. The board did not take formal action on ESS policy during the meeting.
Why it matters: ESS provides essential child care that many parents rely on to maintain employment. Commenters framed the lottery as introducing instability that could force families to leave programs they rely on.
What remains unresolved: parents asked the board to revise prioritization standards and notification timing; staff did not announce immediate changes but will handle requests for follow‑up and incorporate concerns as appropriate.
