Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Personnel topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students and parents urge board to keep Cedar paraeducator, raise concerns about budget cuts and bus conduct
Summary
Students and community members told the Shelton School Board the reassignment of a long-time Cedar High paraeducator named Beth would harm a small school of about 100 students and raised broader concerns about district budget cuts, student withdrawals, alleged underreporting of disciplinary incidents and bus driver conduct.
Students and parents pressed the Shelton School Board to reverse a personnel reassignment and to explain widening budget shortfalls, student withdrawals and alleged problems with transportation and discipline reporting.
Anderson Porter, a Cedar High School student and member of the class of 2027, said Cedar has about 100 students and only one support staff member: paraeducator Beth. Porter said Beth has worked at Cedar since the school opened five years ago, frequently tutors students after school and serves as the school's only medical technician. “Being a student with a life-threatening allergy requiring an EpiPen, Beth is crucial to my safety on and off campus,” Porter said, adding that Beth was told 11 days earlier she will be relocated next month.
Ryan (RJ) Simmons, also a Cedar student, read quotes from community members describing Beth as a tutor, preparer of instructional materials and a provider of social-emotional support. “Her absence at Cedar will be felt in every classroom by even staff members and students,” Simmons said.
Marilyn Aaron, a community member, outlined concerns about the district’s general fund and staffing. She cited a reported deficit trend “growing from 3,800,000 in September to 4.661,000 in November” and urged transparent communication to families and staff about causes and mitigation strategies. Aaron also said the district has seen students withdraw for online schools; she recited rolling totals she had received and framed the withdrawals as a fiscal and retention problem. Aaron said she had emailed the board about recent librarian cuts and asked how the changes align with district literacy goals.
Aaron also alleged “an alarming directive from the superintendent to administrators to avoid reporting disciplinary actions into the system and/or downplaying disciplinary reports as to appear less severe.” She characterized such a directive as harmful to transparency and student safety.
Brandy Romero described unresolved bus concerns. Romero said she has made numerous calls and emails and alleged one driver had made disparaging political comments to elementary students and had yelled at her 7-year-old son about handing out birthday invitations. Romero played a short audio clip for the board and told directors she has received no response from the transportation director.
Board members acknowledged the public comments and thanked students for speaking; Director James (surname not recorded in the transcript) thanked students for their advocacy and noted the board hears and values their input. Clinton Sherman and other staff present confirmed budget-status reports would be posted monthly for public review.
No immediate board action reversing personnel assignments or addressing Romero’s complaint was recorded on the agenda; the meeting’s formal actions were taken on policy, construction and finance items later in the session.
