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Teachers, parents urge board to reinstate kindergarten paraprofessionals amid safety concerns
Summary
Multiple teachers, a principal and union leaders said recent budget cuts that removed paraprofessionals from kindergarten classrooms have created safety and instructional problems and asked the Board of Education and superintendent to restore those positions.
Members of the Bridgeport community pressed the Board of Education on Sept. 8 to reinstate kindergarten paraprofessionals, saying classroom safety and the ability to teach were compromised after staffing reductions this spring.
Speakers at the public-comment portion described recurring incidents in which a single teacher is expected to supervise young children with varied needs, including toileting and frequent behavioral redirection. Jeff Morrissey, president of the Bridgeport Education Association, told the board, “The reinstatement of kindergarten paraprofessionals as district employees will allow teachers the flexibility they need to provide our kids with the best social and…
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