Teachers raise alarm over chaos and safety at Nashua North

During a recent Board of Education meeting, Kristin Powers, a veteran teacher at Nashua North High School, raised urgent concerns regarding safety and discipline within the school. With 15 years of experience, Powers described the hallways as \"chaotic,\" citing frequent fights, drug use in bathrooms, and instances of students overdosing—three cases she personally witnessed this year.

Powers highlighted the troubling environment where students feel unsafe, often hiding in classrooms or corners to eat lunch. She criticized the administration's response to the situation, noting that teachers have been advised to use staff bathrooms due to safety concerns in student facilities. The lack of effective disciplinary measures was also a focal point of her testimony. Powers reported that students in in-school suspension often engage in non-educational activities, such as using their phones or watching movies, indicating a failure of the current disciplinary practices.

The teacher expressed frustration over the administration's delayed response to incidents, including a recent fight that escalated in the hallways without timely intervention. She emphasized the importance of safety in education, referencing Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and urged the board to investigate the conditions at Nashua North firsthand.

Powers concluded her remarks by calling for immediate action, questioning whether the board could truly do nothing to improve the situation. Her passionate plea underscores a growing concern among educators about the impact of an unsafe learning environment on student education and morale.