Beaumont USD Gets State Award For Reducing Chronic Student Absenteeism

BEAUMONT, CA — The state recently recognized six Riverside County school districts for "exemplary practices" that cut down on student absenteeism rates — and Beaumont Unified School District was among them.

In total, 19 school attendance review boards (SARBs) were designated as "model programs" for 2025 by the state SARB.

The Model SARB Recognition Program identifies and recognizes school attendance improvement programs at the district or county level, including efforts to reduce the use of disciplinary practices, like suspensions and expulsions, and replace them with prevention efforts and positive alternative means of correction.

"School attendance improvement programs are a critical tool to have children back in the classroom, which is an important part of academic success and social-emotional well-being, especially for our most vulnerable students," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “I commend each Model SARB as they voluntarily undertake the responsibility to serve as an example of best practices and extend technical assistance to other SARBs, school districts, and counties throughout California."

Tools have been identified to cut down on chronic student absenteeism, including early intervention, staff professional development, added staff, and family engagement and school connectedness.

"Attendance is not just a matter of following rules; it is a fundamental factor that influences student learning, personal development, the financial health of the school district, and the overall success of the educational community in Beaumont," said Beaumont Unified School District Board President Melissa Williamson.

Beaumont USD Student Services Director Dr. Bobbi Burnett said, “We’re dedicated to working with our families to identify attendance barriers specific to their unique situations and eliminating these barriers by connecting our families to school and community resources."

Beaumont USD Student Services Coordinator Amanda Fernandes agreed.

"This approach truly embodies our dedication to fostering strong connections between home, school, and the wider community," she said.

The Model SARB Recognition awards were presented April 28 in Garden Grove at the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance State Conference.

Below are all the 2025 Model SARBs and their chairpersons:

• Bakersfield City School District, Jesse D. Beed (Kern County)
• Beaumont Unified School District, Bobbi Burnett (Riverside County)
• Chowchilla Elementary School District, Ara Derkalousdian (Madera County)
• Conejo Valley Unified School District, Amber Bowman (Ventura County)
• Corona-Norco Unified School District, Crystal Carroll (Riverside County)
• Covina-Valley Unified School District, Fernando Sanchez (Los Angeles County)
• Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District, Antonio Quintanilla (Tulare County)
• Eureka City Schools, Sheri Jensen (Humboldt County)
• Folsom-Cordova Unified School District, Scott Meyer (Sacramento County)
• Humboldt County Office of Education, Gillian Townsend (Humboldt County)
• Menifee Union School District, Melinda Conde (Riverside County)
• Needles Unified School District, Jamie Wiesner (San Bernardino County)
• Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Angela Allen Hess (Orange County)
• Patterson Joint Unified School District, Sandra Villasenor (Stanislaus County)
• Riverside Unified School District, Raul Ayala (Riverside County)
• San Jacinto Unified School District, Courtney Hall (Riverside County)
• Shasta County Office of Education, Wendy Hall (Shasta County)
• Val Verde Unified School District, Steve Coelho (Riverside County)
• Woodlake Unified School District, Melissa Lawson (Tulare County)