by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Claremont Unified School District’s first day of school is Wednesday, August 27. In anticipation, the Courier reached out to CUSD Superintendent Jim Elsasser and CUSD administration for a back-to-school guide.

District spokesperson Elaine Kong said CUSD is working on its student and family resource center at Oakmont Outdoor School. The center is meant to support wellness, engagement, and academic success with mental health counseling, trauma-informed care, art activities, parent workshops, support groups, services for foster and homeless youth and immigrant families, a computer lab, and outdoor therapeutic gardens. Funding was provided in part by a $29,413 Tri-City Mental Health Student Services Act Sub-Grant.

“This initiative builds on the success of similar wellness spaces in our district, such as the ‘ZenDen’ at Claremont High School, and supports ongoing efforts to expand similar resources, including a planned Wellness Center at El Roble Intermediate School,” Kong wrote in an email. “By creating this central hub of support services, we are deepening our commitment to the well-being of every student and strengthening the connection between school and home.”

The resource center will open during the school year and be overseen by the district’s senior liaison of youth and family services.

Kong said Proposition 28, The Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, “continues to enrich our creative programs across the district,” with El Roble Intermediate and Claremont High adding more dance classes and San Antonio High continuing the art classes that debuted last year.

“At our elementary schools, principals and teams are thoughtfully tailoring their Prop 28 allocations to meet individual student needs,” Kong wrote. “Some sites are bringing in additional music coaches, while others are investing in enhanced visual arts, dance, theater and media arts. These funds are intentional additions to existing programs, meant to supplement, not supplant what we already offer. This ensures that every dollar propels our creative learning forward.”

The district is also rolling out a new student information database with Aeries Student Information System.

“This change comes directly from staff feedback about needing a platform that better supports the needs of our students, families, and educators,” Kong wrote. “Aeries offers a more intuitive, user-friendly experience, with streamlined tools for staff, parents, and students alike. While big transitions like this can come with a few bumps along the way, we’re confident this shift will make managing student information easier and more efficient for everyone. We appreciate our community’s patience and partnership as we make this important upgrade.

“For families, the Aeries Parent Portal is the best place to access information related to their students, from schedules and grades to updates that affect their school experience.”

Kong said the district welcomed some 30 new certificated staff including teachers, a nurse and counselor; three new principals; one new assistant principal; a teacher on special assignment supporting special education; a teacher on special assignment working with the child development program; an intervention teacher focused on school culture and climate; and approximately 20 support staff.

“We’re proud to share that students and families will not see significant changes inside classrooms this year,” Kong wrote.

Class size maximums remain the same this year, no furlough days were added to the district calendar, and staffing levels remain steady.

The district is navigating a unique moment financially, beginning a school year projected to leave them with a near $6 million deficit, which it will cover with its reserve funds, currently at $17.3 million. District officials are also monitoring the Trump administration’s stated aim of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, which could spell uncertainty when it comes to the distribution of federal funding. With that, the Courier asked if the district has taken time to diversify its portfolio and revenue streams.

“Public school districts receive their funding through state, federal and local funding,” Kong wrote. “We are exploring various grant funding sources and having increased collaboration with our PFAs [parent-faculty-associations] and booster clubs to find ways to increase support to school sites.”

Lastly, negotiations resumed this week between CUSD and the Claremont Faculty Association, which is seeking an across the board raise for teachers.

“Any updates regarding negotiations with our employee associations will be shared at an upcoming 2025-26 board meeting,” Kong said. “We encourage families and staff to stay connected by reviewing board agendas and updates on our district website.”

The district has webpages for back-to-school topics at each of its 10 campuses at cusd.claremont.edu.