Richard Cantu, director of the adult and continuing education programs at the Beaumont Independent School District, announced today that continuing education cosmetology classes for adults will be offered this fall at the Taylor Career Center. Cantu’s announcement follows this week’s closure of the courtesy class that Taylor Career Center Principal Thom Campbell-Amons had allowed to exist, despite insufficient funding to support it based on adult student tuition.

            While Campbell-Amons utilized his authority under the district’s campus site-based management program to try to help BISD graduates continue to earn the required 1,000 hours to become licensed cosmetologists, he also allowed class attendance by non-BISD graduates who were aspiring students of cosmetology to gain credit for the 1,500 hours they needed to become Texas licensed cosmetologists.

            To date, four adults have expressed interest in the cosmetology class. Cantu explained that the district’s continuing education program will require registration of a minimum of 10 students. The class will start in the first session of this school year’s continuing education program, kicking off in October.  The continuing education cosmetology class will be held at the Taylor Career Center, located at 2330 North St.  The tuition is $125 every two weeks, plus a non-refundable deposit of $100 and a $25 fee to register with the state.  Additionally, students will be required to purchase a $175 supply kit and pay for any other required class supplies.

            “Mr. Amons and I met to discuss and work out a plan that would still allow for BISD to fill an apparent community need.  We agree that the adult students are best served in our continuing education program. Furthermore, we are happy to do what we can to help advance the careers of area adults in this particular field,” said Cantu. 

            More details about the class requirements and opportunities for adults to participate in the program will be in the continuing education program schedule of classes that is being mailed to all Beaumont households next week.

            BISD Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Chargois, also expressed that misinformation circulating that the program was closed to prevent a student from attending because of that student’s sexual preference is not true. “The student has confirmed with BISD officials that he did not have a conversation with Mr. Amons as some have erroneously inferred. Furthermore, the principal at Taylor has assured me that he has never barred a student from class based on gender, ethnicity, physical challenges, sexual preference, socio-economic status or any other such discriminatory factors. It is important to share that BISD is first and foremost responsible to and for the students enrolled in public education classes up to grade 12, regardless of the aforementioned factors.

            “We are also very committed to serving the educational needs of Beaumont area’s adult community via our continuing education program.  While I have only been superintendent for a couple of weeks, my mission includes upholding the law and making sure that public education is accessible, regardless the sexual preference and any other such judgmental factors,” Dr. Chargois added.