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Residents and former staff press Garfield board on reading programs and question new position controls; local pastor seeks school space
Summary
During public comment at the April 28 Garfield Board meeting, residents urged renewal of Wilson reading training and questioned the district’s personnel postings; a local pastor said his congregation needs large facilities and said organizers had coordinated with the district.
Several public commenters at the Garfield Public School District board meeting on April 28 urged the board to prioritize reading remediation programs and questioned whether newly approved position controls would improve classroom instruction.
Arlene Catieri, who identified herself as a resident, said she is concerned that the agenda items creating position controls appear to add supervisory posts at a time when the district needs direct classroom supports. “It’s all creating positions,” Catieri said during public comment, adding that she did not see items on phonics or targeted reading supports on the agenda.
Former district federal programs supervisor Jerry Ledford urged the board to expand access to the Wilson Reading System, a phonics-based intervention he said was previously established in Garfield and whose local trainer, Linda Porpora, could offer cost-effective training. “Wilson is one of the things you need in Garfield,” Ledford said, adding that Title funding can pay for training.
A pastor, Christian Allen of the House of Worship Christian Church, addressed the board about his congregation’s need for a larger meeting site and said the church had previously used district facilities and engaged with the district, the fire department and building inspectors on occupancy and safety. Allen said his congregation grew after the pandemic and that leaders sought to continue meeting in Garfield.
Why it matters: public comment signaled community concern that administrative reorganizations and new job descriptions not displace focus on classroom reading instruction and direct student supports. Speakers cited existing district programs and federal funding as potential resources to expand reading intervention.
What the district said: board and district leaders replied in the meeting that the personnel approvals are position controls and that existing programs such as Wilson and MTSS remain in place; the superintendent and board members said there is a train-the-trainer structure for reading interventions and that the lead-teacher position is intended as an instructional support role.
The board said it will consider posting or filling positions after reorganization and review requests for program funding and training as part of regular curriculum and Title funding processes.
