Back-to-School Night Canceled; Parents Upset

The loss of Back-to-School night has parents of students in Redondo Beach Unified School District upset.

According to an article in the Daily Breeze, the annual event was canceled due to budget cuts at the state level. These same budget cuts forced the school district to institute a handful of furlough days for the first time in history.

"People seem to be more disappointed about Back-to-School night than they are about Friday furlough days," Polly Kinsinger, the president of the Redondo Beach Joint Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, told the school board during its Sept. 11 meeting. "I think parents would really like to see that reinstated."

Another parent at the same school board meeting expressed similar concerns.

"I truly miss (Back-to-School Night). I think it's an important night," the parent told the school board. "It's the one night where a parent gets to walk in the shoes of a student."

School district Superintendent Steven Keller told the Daily Breeze that they had heard from parents unhappy with the cancellation.

"Their clear desire is for this to take place this year only," Keller said. "People have been very clear, and we certainly respect what we've very clearly heard and what they've said."

• Full story: Redondo Beach Unified Back-to-School Night Cancellation Upsets Some [Daily Breeze]