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Parents urge district to fix TK/kindergarten placements and after‑school gaps
Summary
Parents told the Beaumont Unified School District board that a lottery‑based TK and kindergarten placement system and limited wraparound care are creating inequitable access for working families; officials said staffing and space—not just budget—limit immediate fixes and staff will return with options.
Parents and community members pressed the Beaumont Unified School District board on July 22 about recent changes to transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten placements, saying the district’s lottery system and limited wraparound care are creating real‑world barriers for working families.
"The current TK and kindergarten system is not designed to support working families," read Julio Martinez, who delivered a letter from parent and district employee Aronia Jones. The letter said a PM TK assignment makes attendance “logistically impossible” for some families and urged the district to consider wraparound care partnerships and transportation support.
Several parents followed with detailed examples. "Shortening their school day not only affects their academic learning but also diminishes valuable time for social development," said Bethany Brewer, who said her child is moving from full‑day TK to a half‑day kindergarten and described the change as disruptive. Annette Beasley, whose son receives speech services under an IEP, told the board that a dismissal time of 11:40 a.m. will reduce essential minutes for pull‑out services.
Board members and staff acknowledged the concerns and described the practical limits the district faces. Superintendent Kishh said the constraint is largely facility space and staffing rather than available funding, noting that the district must meet state‑prescribed supervision ratios for TK/K (for example, 20:1 or 10:1 depending on grade) and that classrooms are already in use. Staff reported the district increased seats roughly 20% over last year and currently lists about 1,055 available seats systemwide while working through a waiting list (approximately 300 families pending placement as of this meeting).
District staff and board members outlined near‑term steps. The board asked staff to return with recommendations on whether to prioritize prior attendees for after‑school enrollment, and to evaluate options for using Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) or Proposition 28 funds for extended‑day services. "We will look at that and see if we can accommodate that," a district official said, adding any policy modification likely would apply for the next school year because placement systems for the coming term are already in motion.
Staff also explained the role of external partners. The Boys & Girls Club currently staffs the district’s impact (after‑school) program and must hire additional employees before more students can be served; staff said expanding seats depends in part on partner hiring and available physical space. The board and staff repeatedly cited a lack of classrooms as the principal barrier; trustees said the long‑term solution is increased facilities capacity, noting a possible bond measure in 2026 to fund additional classrooms.
The board directed staff to return with more detailed options and communications for families; trustees encouraged clearer messaging about program names, registration procedures and timelines so families know when and how to apply.
