Residents and a teacher urge committee to address youth violence and restore reading intervention positions

Several public speakers used the Jan. 6 Lewiston Public Schools school committee meeting to press for stronger responses to youth violence and to restore staff positions cut in recent budget rounds.

Matthew Agrin (Ward 4) told the committee that youth violence in Lewiston begins with younger children and escalates when adults fail to intervene. "The school needs to have a 0 tolerance policy when it comes to violence," Agrin said, urging collaboration among parents, nonprofits, the safety committee, schools and law enforcement. He asked the committee to develop a five-year plan tied to the upcoming budget cycle and warned that state-level changes to early childhood disability services (CDS) could shift long-term costs to local districts.

Alexander Belva, a sixth-grade teacher at Connors Elementary, described the impact of recent budget cuts on classroom supports. Belva said the district lost interventionist positions in reading and mathematics and that cuts to instructional coaches have reduced help for teachers. "When our students can't read, we are seeing behavior spike," Belva said, adding that intervention and coaching positions were "vital" to improving instruction.

Belva said staff shortages have increased behavioral incidents and that teachers have limited capacity to fill the gap. He urged committee members to consider the long-term consequences of cuts as they prepare the next budget.

Speakers asked the committee to consider partnerships with law enforcement, nonprofits, and state agencies to address violence and to ensure any state-funded programs do not leave local districts bearing the full cost. The committee did not take action on these public suggestions during the meeting; staff and members acknowledged the concerns and noted budget planning is forthcoming.