The Pottsgrove School District board voted Tuesday to hire two outside reviewers to assess special-education services and school safety after presentations by district staff and school-safety specialists and public comments from parents and teachers concerned about disruptive student behavior at Ringing Rocks Elementary School.

District officials presented data showing most students at Ringing Rocks have no discipline referrals, while a small group accounts for repeated, serious disruptions that school leaders said require intensive supports. The board approved contracts with Global Special Education Associates (GSEA) and with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) to conduct overlapping, independent reviews intended to identify immediate and longer-term changes.

The reviews follow a report by two Montgomery County school-safety specialists who observed classrooms, lunches and recess at Ringing Rocks and recommended clarifying expectations, strengthening building command structure and reviewing supervision during unstructured times. Carly Duko, a county school safety specialist, told the board the county’s involvement was voluntary at the district’s request and that the county had done two full-day observations.

Why it matters: Parents, teachers and district leaders said they are seeing serious behavioral incidents that affect classroom instruction and safety. Administrators presented steps already in place — staff training, sensory rooms, behavioral plans, additional staff hires and restorative/reflection spaces — and the board said the outside reviews will add independent recommendations and help guide staffing and program decisions.

District presentation and current measures
District Director of Pupil Services Dr. Emery Lucas and Ringing Rocks Principal Stephanie Myers described interventions the district has introduced this school year. Lucas said the district has seen an increase in students eligible for special education over the past four years and that Ringing Rocks currently has “a small number of students, 14,” with significant behavioral needs. He described the district’s multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS), positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) and a continuum of services, from full general-education inclusion to out-of-district placements.

Lucas said the district trains staff in Safety Care — a nationally used, trauma-informed de-escalation and restraint system — and that 12 Ringing Rocks staff had completed initial Safety Care training in early September, with more scheduled. He also described sensory rooms in every building, Tier 2/3 counseling supports provided through outside partners (Springfield Psychological and Hopewell Counseling), and a “reflection room” at Ringing Rocks intended to deliver restorative practices before students return to class.

Lucas told the board that the Bureau of Special Education has cited the district in recent years for a higher-than-average suspension rate for students with disabilities, but that state audits found the district’s paperwork and procedures followed required processes. He said auditors recommended focusing on alternatives to suspension and that the district is pursuing those alternatives.

Staffing, caseload and training
Lucas and other presenters detailed staffing shortfalls and turnover that they said complicate implementation of supports. Lucas cited statewide vacancy data presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Education: 834 special-education positions vacant or filled by substitutes in October 2023 and 1,379 in October 2024. At Ringing Rocks he said the district has added special-education teachers and registered behavior technicians (RBTs), but some RBTs remain in onboarding and several instructional-assistant positions are unfilled; the district has contracted vendors to recruit candidates.

Myers, Ringing Rocks’ principal, described a staff collaboration day in September when teachers formed committees that restructured recess into supervised zones, strengthened communication protocols and began creating a reflection room staffed for restorative work. She said the changes contributed to a decline in disciplinary referrals in the weeks after the interventions: a chart shown to the board indicated a roughly 60% decrease in total referrals and a 75% decrease in physical-aggression referrals between September 8 and October 6. Myers and Lucas said the district will continue to monitor data and adjust.

County safety specialists’ observations
Carly Duko and Dr. Beth Sanborn of the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety presented findings from two full-day observations at Ringing Rocks (Sept. 30 and Oct. 6). Duko said she observed classroom interactions, lunches, recess and implementation of positive behavioral supports and recommended clarifying and consistently enforcing expectations, strengthening the school-level command structure and reviewing supervision at unstructured times.

Sanborn, the county school safety coordinator, said the district has “a strong foundation” and highlighted strengths including use of nationally recognized threat- and suicide-assessment tools (CSTAG and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale), confidentiality safeguards and inclusion of paraprofessionals in trauma training. She recommended expanded family engagement and more explicit equity and cultural-responsiveness language in protocols.

Public comment and staff concerns
About two dozen people spoke during public comment, and much of the testimony focused on Ringing Rocks. Parents and teachers described repeated in-class and recess incidents — including physical altercations — and asked the board for unannounced audits, more trained staff on recess duty, stricter enforcement of discipline for violent acts and consideration of reinstating a school-resource officer at Ringing Rocks. Several speakers said the announced county audit produced a calmer day because some students were suspended that day and extra staff were present, and they asked for unannounced reviews so audits reflect typical days.

Teacher and staff speakers praised recent changes and leadership at Ringing Rocks while also urging faster progress. A Ringing Rocks teacher and a registered behavior technician described improved building energy and specific new supports, and other teachers and parents said they still fear for student safety and want greater transparency and accountability from district leadership.

Board action and next steps
After discussion, the board voted to approve two outside reviews: a contract with Global Special Education Associates (GSEA) to perform an external assessment (contract discussed at roughly $55,000 plus travel) and a board‑initiated review by the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) capped at $2,000. Superintendent Dr. Finnerty and board members said they wanted both reviews done promptly so the district can use the findings to guide staffing, program changes and possible placement decisions.

The board also discussed longer-term options raised during the meeting, including whether a district-operated, small intensive program might better meet some students’ needs than frequent out-of-district placements. Board members and administrators said such options would require substantial planning and resources and that the independent reviews could inform feasibility.

Votes at a glance
The meeting included multiple routine business approvals. The board recorded votes in favor of all items below (motions made and seconded during the meeting; roll call earlier showed nine board members present):
- Approval of board minutes (Sept. 9 and Sept. 23) — approved.
- Payment of invoices for September 2025 in the amount of $3,000,764.33 — approved.
- Personnel package including retirements, a leave of absence, resignations, support-staff retirements, appointments of support staff, a support-staff change in assignment, supplemental and non-athletic appointments (agenda items 9.1–9.7) — approved.
- Rebidding of the tennis courts (EI Associates) — approved.
- Contract with Kencore LLC for preventative maintenance on three elevators (high school, middle school, lower elementary) — approved.
- Acceptance of donated instruments (three violins and two violas) for the high school music program — approved.
- Contract with Global Special Education Associates for an external assessment — approved.
- Contract with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit to perform a board-initiated assessment (cap $2,000) — approved.
- Education items including a memorandum of understanding with the assistant district attorney to operate a school-based youth aid panel, assignment of mentor teachers and several staff conference attendances (agenda items 11.1–11.7) — approved.
- Committee minutes and other standard approvals (agenda 14.1–14.3) — approved.

What the board said it will do next
Board members and administrators said they will use the outside reviews and continuing data monitoring to refine staffing, training and intervention strategies at Ringing Rocks and across the district. The district will continue Safety Care training and scheduled coaching, monitor the effect of the new recess zoning and reflection room, and explore placements and program options if students’ needs exceed district capacity. The board said it will provide updates as reviews are completed.

Attribution note: direct quotations in this article are taken from presentations and comments recorded during the Oct. 14 board meeting; paraphrased summaries reflect explanations and data shown by Dr. Emery Lucas, Principal Stephanie Myers, Superintendent Dr. Finnerty, county safety specialists Carly Duko and Dr. Beth Sanborn, and multiple public commenters.