Beaumont USD Parents Protest School Closures

BEAUMONT, CA — Some Beaumont Unified School District parents are angry that campuses have not reopened for in-person instruction amid coronavirus, and now they're taking their frustrations to the street.

Several dozen parents and some BUSD kids held a protest Wednesday in front of district headquarters on West Brookside Avenue to voice their concerns. Holding signs that read, "Our Kids Deserve Better," and "Open Our Schools," many of the parents blame the district for not bringing students back to campus.

They allege that district officials are "siding" with unions "to keep schools closed," and that a plan for safe reopening should be in place.

"Beaumont Unified has had seven months to come up with a reopening plan and purchase necessary equipment in order to reopen safely and have failed to do so," one parent said.

But BUSD, like all school districts across Riverside County, has been navigating changing health mandates issued by the state. With the county now back in the state's "purple tier," the only way the district can reopen schools is to apply for a waiver. If a waiver were approved by state and local health officials, the BUSD's K-6 students would be allowed back into classrooms, but older children would still be relegated to virtual learning while the county's in the purple tier.

To date, no Riverside County school district has applied to reopen under the waiver program.

"It was disheartening to learn that Riverside County moved back into the purple tier on Tuesday," the district said in an emailed statement. "Beaumont USD is truly trying to come up with a plan to safely bring our students back to the classroom, however, the restrictions imposed by local and state health officials is making it extremely difficult for us — and districts across the county — to do so."

Some parents also contend that kids are not getting enough instruction time during the virtual learning that's in place.

"My 2nd grader is 'logged on' for about 45 minutes a day," one parent said. Other parents held signs during the protest that read, "Kids need to be in school for more than 3 hours a week."

Kids are struggling, and working families are trying to balance career and daytime childcare during school closures, the parents argue.

"Why was the parents' choice taken away?" a parent said. "If there are students willing to go back and teachers willing to teach, why is this not happening?"

In its emailed response, the BUSD said, "The hybrid [learning] model we are allowed to offer is based on federal, state, and county health guidelines. We understand that our students are disappointed and that our parents are frustrated."

The parents plan another protest on Oct. 27, from 4-6 p.m., at district headquarters. The protest will precede a BUSD Board of Trustees meeting scheduled that same day at 6:30 p.m. The board is slated to review the district's in-person instruction plan.

For more information about the upcoming Board of Trustees meeting and to attend virtually, visit www.beaumontusd.us.