RBUSD Cuts Back Summer School Program

For the second year in a row, summer school in Redondo Beach has been canceled for most elementary and middle school students.

Beginning June 28, Redondo Beach Unified School District will offer summer school on a limited basis for only high school students who have failed a class. Elementary and middle school students will not be eligible to enroll.

Last year the district spent approximately $143,000 on summer school. Eliminating summer school for the lower grades will save the district approximately $118,000.

The district is still sorting out how it will rank the needs of high school students if they exceed the student capacity of the program, according to Frank DeSena, RBUSD assistant superintendent of student services. DeSena said the school district will be flexible with summer class sizes to meet the student needs.

Classes likely to be offered this summer include biology, English 11, U.S. history, geometry, algebra 1 and physical science. All classes will be held at Redondo Union High School.

Classes for students from elementary through high school who are on an extended school year curriculum are not affected by the cuts.

Like other California school districts, RBUSD has been adversely affected by the state's budget crisis. The district is struggling to close a $4-million budget gap, DeSena said. On March 15, 27 teachers — 24 of them elementary school teachers — in addition to a counselor, principal and assistant principal  received layoff notices, though school officials have yet to determine how many of those will actually lose their jobs.

Class sizes in the fall will likely increase, and the district is also considering adopting furlough days. 

"I think people kind of get that we're in dire financial straits," DeSena said.

Marymount College, located in Rancho Palos Verdes, will provide an alternative summer school program for students in the area. The private college will offer elementary, middle and high school courses, charging $265 for a semester class, and $530 for a year-long class. Marymount will hire Redondo district staff to teach at least some of the courses. Washington School, Adams Middle School, and RUHS will be the locations for the program.

The district will offer at-risk elementary and middle school students a packet of instructional material to work on over the summer, but it will be up to their parents to make the most of the at-home program, DeSena said.

Dr. Lars Nygren, principal of Parras Middle School,  said the lack of a summer school program will most affect students who have failed math or language arts.

"I just think it's a shame that the state has cut public education so much," he said.