Long Beach School Board outlines district plans, but parents voice their concerns

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The Long Beach Board of Education met on Tuesday to discuss the district’s financial strategy and proposed new capital projects while addressing community concerns.

Michael DeVito, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, presented a detailed plan for facilities upgrades that would be funded by a bond initiative, with no additional tax burden on residents.

“It actually allows things to remain stable, the tax revenue, without having any debts or major increases,” DeVito said. “And what we’re proposing here is that we can do this and have no increase at all, and maybe actually have a decrease of payout later.”

DeVito explained that the district stands to benefit from the expiration of roughly $8 million in annual debt service payments. As they are phased out in the coming years, the district can borrow money for capital projects while keeping the tax levy unchanged. This approach is designed to maintain fiscal responsibility while addressing the district’s infrastructure needs.

Among the key proposals is the establishment of a wellness center at Long Beach High School to offer students a supportive environment where they can focus on their mental health. School psychologists and social workers could meet with students there, host wellness programs and offer resources for managing stress and anxiety.

The district also plans to dedicate more space at the high school to programs in carpentry, robotics, business and marine science, and offer hands-on, career-focused learning. Other proposed renovations include updating the family consumer science lab, transforming the cafeteria with a new entrance and layout, and upgrading the air circulation and air conditioning systems.

Plans for the high school also call for the construction of a new wrestling gym, which could serve multiple purposes when not in use by the wrestling team, as well as replacing the aging artificial-turf football field and upgrading the bleachers. Finally, the district would address basic maintenance needs, such as repairs to walls, doors and windows.

At the elementary schools, the focus would be on enhancing safety and air quality by improving ventilation systems, and designing inclusive playgrounds to ensure that they are accessible to those of all abilities.

“It goes beyond the accessibility standards, where all people of all abilities can interact based on universal design principles that guide the placement of all the different play structures — the pathways, the seating, the equipment,” DeVito said. “And it’s a place where children, families and caretakers can (play) together regardless of their abilities.”

The bond amount has not yet been finalized, but district officials say they are committed to keeping it within the current debt service limit to avoid any tax increases.

Concerns about the potential closure of East School were a prominent topic in Tuesday night’s discussion, with parents asking whether the proposed facility upgrades and new programs, while valuable, were being prioritized over addressing urgent issues like overcrowding and focusing on core educational needs.

“What we just saw was a lot of things coming, while my community is facing the closure of a school and my children being shifted into spaces through three elementary schools,” one parent, Joanne Kapp, said. “A lot of these things that you showed are not foundational to education — a wellness center, a coffee café, fish tanks. I think those are all nice to have, but it’s almost a slap in the face to the community.

“I appreciate that we’re trying to build the infrastructure, but I have stood here month over month, year over year, asking to fix the HVAC at our school,” Kapp continued. “To see what looks like an apartment or the Sands Beach Club at the high school, I hope you can understand how upsetting that is from a community standpoint. We’re trying to argue for class sizes for our elementary schools, for programs in our elementary schools. So I hope this is the first version that continues to iterate, but I hope you can understand where I’m coming from.”

The need to address the challenges at East School was a recurring theme during the discussion, as parents sought assurance that their concerns would be addressed alongside the district’s ambitious plans for new projects and programs.

The board encouraged community members to remain engaged throughout the process as the district prepares to present a more detailed proposal in the weeks and months ahead.