During a recent school board meeting, concerns were raised regarding the ongoing challenges faced by the Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD) classroom at Eatonville Elementary. Brittany King Pritchett, an employee of the Eatonville School District and a concerned parent, addressed the board, highlighting significant issues stemming from a lack of consistent staffing in the classroom.

Pritchett reported that the EBD classroom has experienced a high turnover of teachers and paraprofessionals since its establishment three years ago. Most notably, she pointed out that the classroom has been without a certified special education teacher for 34 days, following the abrupt reassignment of the previous teacher with only one day's notice. This instability has created a dangerous environment for students, who exhibit challenging behaviors such as physical aggression and verbal abuse, exacerbated by the absence of a consistent educator.

The speaker emphasized that the substitutes filling in during this period have not received Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training, which is crucial for managing the behaviors that frequently arise in the classroom. Pritchett noted that there were seven days in the past month where the classroom operated without any teacher or substitute, relying solely on paraprofessional support.

Pritchett expressed concern over the lack of communication from the administration regarding the situation, stating that parents of students in the program may not be fully aware of the ongoing issues. She concluded her remarks by asserting that the students deserve proper support and consistent instruction, urging the board to address these critical staffing shortages to ensure a safe and effective learning environment.

The board president reiterated the importance of maintaining decorum during public comments and emphasized the need for clear protocols to manage discussions effectively.