Amistad Elementary teachers and staff addressed the Kennewick School District Board of Directors during public comment on concerns raised at an earlier meeting about the school’s academic performance and staff experience. Staff members said they were not invited to the prior discussion and asked the board to see the classroom work firsthand.

Why it matters: Amistad is listed by the state as a school in improvement; teachers said public remarks suggesting the building’s problems stem from inexperienced staff were inaccurate and damaging to educator morale. Board members and the superintendent used the meeting to clarify intent and outline follow-up steps.

Amistad teachers gave the board classroom and staffing details and asked for consistent, scheduled visits that include speaking with staff. Tara Rink, a teacher at Amistad Elementary, told the board she knows her students and their families and that “I have 29 fifth graders this year,” and emphasized that teachers are reflecting on practice to meet students’ needs. Rhonda McClellan, a learning facilitator at Amistad, read a roster of staff experience and said, “I don’t think we’re an inexperienced staff.”

Superintendent Dr. Pierce acknowledged the district’s required state reporting process for schools in improvement, said she had visited Amistad and congratulated staff on a Washington Achievement Award and a new mural, and noted that the district would work with principals on school visit invitations and scheduling. In a separate clarification the board president said comments made at the prior meeting were intended to question the district report’s conclusions, not to blame teachers; the board member apologized for any misunderstanding and offered to spend full days in classrooms when invited.

District staff and board members encouraged Amistad staff to continue inviting board members into classrooms, and said the administration would review how official visits are scheduled so principals and staff know when members will be on site. The superintendent also said the district would continue to examine the state-required improvement plan to identify supports the district can provide.

The public comments that evening also included a request that the board set clearer expectations for what constitutes an “official visit” — whether it is relationship-building, data review, or classroom walkthroughs — and staff urged the board to prioritize visits that allow principals to showcase building-level practices and for board members to speak directly with classroom teachers.

Ending: Board members said they would follow up with principals and said they welcome invitations to spend time in classrooms; Dr. Pierce and district staff will continue to review the school improvement plan and consider any next steps requested by the Amistad staff and community.