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Parents urge district to halt changes at Park View program; trustees promise review
Summary
Multiple long‑time Park View families told the board that recent program changes, staffing turnover and increased online components are undermining a homeschool‑style program that serves neurodivergent students. Trustees acknowledged concerns and asked staff for further engagement and review.
A steady stream of parents and founding families of Park View told the Placentia‑Yorba Linda Unified School District board April 14 they are alarmed by programmatic changes and teacher turnover that they say are harming the program’s distinctive homeschool‑style model.
"There are changes coming next year that are undermining what has been a program of excellence," said Jeffrey Cash, a Park View parent, who criticized increases in online instruction and a shortened school calendar. Janelle Smith and long‑time parents described diminished parent and student engagement, reduced consistency of teachers and a perceived erosion of the campus culture that drew families to Park View.
Heather Falcone, whose children have attended Park View for more than a decade, said staffing instability — "This year, he does not [have] the teacher he had; he now has six teachers" — has created harm for students who rely on consistent relationship‑based instruction. Parents asked the board to pause planned changes, re‑open dialogue between families and staff, and evaluate impacts, particularly for neurodivergent students who chose Park View for its structure.
Trustees acknowledged the comments and several said they value Park View as a unique district program. Trustee remarks emphasized the need to balance program fidelity and legal/districtwide staffing and budgeting realities, and asked staff to work with families and school leaders. No binding action was taken; trustees encouraged continued communication and promised follow‑up through staff channels.
District staff previously explained that, given declining enrollment and the need to balance master schedules and budgets for 2026‑27, processing interdistrict transfer requests and program adjustments have taken longer than in past years. Superintendent Dr. Kim Leblanc Esparza apologized for delays in the transfer process and said new systems should reduce backlog in the future.
The board’s public record shows parents’ concerns were substantive and widespread during the meeting: trustees removed no items from the consent calendar on this basis but did hear and discuss the issues publicly and recommended continuing engagement between the district and Park View families.
Next steps: trustees and staff said they will continue direct conversations with Park View families and principals; no formal policy changes were adopted at the April 14 meeting.
