Speakers at the Sept. 30 Ithaca City School District Board of Education meeting pressed the board and superintendent to address teacher pay, retention and communication as contract talks with the Ithaca Teachers Association (ITA) remain ongoing.

Several residents and district staff described classroom and staffing shortages and urged the board to advance contract terms they say would improve retention. ‘‘ICSD’s failure to communicate with its staff and parents is unacceptable,’’ said Jeff Ames, a community member whose remarks criticized the district’s communication around recent threat emails. Beverly Tan, a social-studies teacher at Ithaca High School, said, “When the ITA says teacher working conditions are student learning conditions, it’s true.”

Board members and the superintendent acknowledged the concerns and said negotiations are continuing. Superintendent Dr. Brown said negotiations resumed after a summer pause and that the next public session is scheduled to begin in October. No new contract was announced at the meeting.

Why it matters: Board decisions on teacher pay and working conditions determine staffing levels and classroom stability. Speakers warned that ongoing vacancies and unresolved contract demands hurt students and disproportionately affect marginalized students.

What happened and what was said: Public commenters described concrete shortages and stresses. Dina Maxwell, a community member, listed operational gaps she said the district faces: missing substitutes, bus drivers and janitorial staff, and questioned an administrative contract extension she said cost “almost $300,000.” Victor Garang and other family members said spouses who are teachers face wages below neighboring districts, and urged the board to address the pay gap so teachers will stay.

Student representatives and a string of teachers recounted missing positions at the start of the year, including multiple science classes without permanent teachers, and asked the board to support ITA requests for step-and-lane salary movement, paid family leave and improved medical benefits. A student representative said the student body “supports the ITA and their contract” and that retaining teachers matters for continuity from middle school through high school.

Board response and next steps: Board members said they value teachers and are working through a strategy to allocate resources, and that negotiations are ongoing. Several board members encouraged continued public engagement and offered their availability to meet individually with community members, PTAs and staff.

No formal board action on bargaining terms occurred at the Sept. 30 meeting; the superintendent said negotiation sessions are scheduled to resume in October.

Ending: Speakers asked for more timely, direct communication from the district and for the board to prioritize teacher retention during bargaining. The board said it will continue negotiations and seeks to return with further updates in coming meetings.