Paso Robles Joint Unified School District will celebrate the opening of new playgrounds and classrooms at Kermit King and Pat Butler elementary schools this week, marking an investment not only in new spaces for students to play and learn, but in the continued expansion of the District’s free after-school Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP).

The community is invited to attend both ribbon-cutting celebrations:

Kermit King Elementary School

Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.

Opening of new playground and classrooms

 

Pat Butler Elementary School

Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.

Opening of new playground, classrooms, and garden

The new ADA-accessible playgrounds feature soft, resilient surfacing and equipment designed to create welcoming spaces where students of varying abilities can play, explore, and connect. The new portable classrooms, which opened with the start of the school year, are already providing dedicated space for PRJUSD’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP).

Before receiving ELOP funding, the after-school programs at Kermit King and Pat Butler served approximately 50 students at each site. Today, each campus has capacity for 110 students—more than doubling the number of students who can participate. The dedicated classrooms also significantly reduce the need for after-school programs to share space with teachers’ daytime classrooms.

PRJUSD’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program provides after-school care at no cost to Paso Schools families, extending the school day with opportunities for enrichment, recreation, academic support, social development, and hands-on learning. The program also provides families with dependable care after the traditional school day.

The playgrounds and classrooms were funded through California’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, which provides dedicated state funding for before-school, after-school, summer, and intersession programs. By investing those funds in spaces for expanded learning, PRJUSD will be able to serve more students for years to come.

The Pat Butler project also includes a new garden, adding another outdoor space where students can learn through exploration and hands-on experiences.

Families, staff, neighbors, community partners, and members of the public are invited to attend the ribbon cuttings and help PRJUSD officially welcome the new spaces to both campuses.

About Paso Robles Joint Unified School District 

Paso Robles Joint Unified School District serves approximately 6,200 students throughout northern San Luis Obispo County. Guided by its core values of integrity, accountability, collaboration, innovation, compassion, and belonging, PRJUSD is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where every student feels valued and empowered to discover their strengths, build resilience, and develop the knowledge, character, and confidence to thrive in their future.

 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Paso Robles Joint Unified School District

Melissa Godsey

Public Information Officer