Parents press Hazlet board on rising special-education turnover; resident praises district arts programs

A Hazlet parent told the board the district is experiencing high turnover among special-education staff and asked what the district is doing to retain providers.

“...In the 2 years that my son's been in district, he's gone through 22 adults plus his specials, teachers and administrators,” Clarissa Bruno Martin said during the citizen comment period, adding that 12 of those 22 are still working in the district. “It's a mix. Some took leaves, some decided to go somewhere else, some have totally changed careers.” She asked the board what it is doing to limit turnover and to stabilize services for students who need consistency.

The comment was presented during the meeting's citizens' comments section; the transcript does not show a board response on the record to Ms. Bruno Martin's question, nor a formal motion addressing staffing retention.

A second public commenter, Nathan Bidd, praised the district's arts programs and urged the board to consider arts programming alongside academics and athletics when making difficult budget choices. “The Hazlet Drama Club was chosen one of 30 schools out of the entire country to go to Scotland to perform in the Fringe Festival this summer,” Bidd said, and he also noted that the marching band had been invited to perform in Normandy the previous year.

Bidd told the board the arts provide students with valuable skills and urged the administration to “keep in mind, the arts as well as athletics and academics” when reviewing district priorities.

What happened next: the board moved on to adjournment; the transcript records no formal board directive or vote in response to the public comments. The staffing concern was presented as a request for information and follow-up; the arts praise was a public expression of support.