Claremont Unified School District employees with the Best Learning After School Time program hold a protest on Thursday outside the Richard Kirkendall Education Center in Claremont.

The CUSD Board of Education is scheduled to vote Thursday evening on a recommendation to lay off the BLAST employees because the district can not offer the program for the fall semester. Twenty-one part-time BLAST employees would be affected by the layoffs.

CHS graduate Todd Thornstrom, who is a children’s assistant one, grew up in Claremont, and has fond memories of attending BLAST as a student inspired him to be part of the program as an adult.

The BLAST employees say that the money the district will save is minimal since they are all part-time. As an alternative, they are asking for furloughs instead of layoffs so they can keep district benefits, which is even more important due to the pandemic.