Teachers and substitutes urge Elkhart Community Schools to address pay, staffing and missing social‑studies texts

Sean Simmons, a long‑term substitute at Westside Middle School, told the Elkhart Community Schools board on Sept. 9 that substitutes who take on planning, grading and classroom management are not compensated at a level that reflects their responsibilities. "My value and the value of other substitutes cannot be measured on a spreadsheet alone," Simmons said, and urged the district to create a substitute tier system that recognizes long‑term substitute work. "We need action," he said.

Julie Gunn, a first‑grade teacher at Oslo School, told the board families and teachers are worried about large classes and lost sections at her school. Gunn said special‑education and intervention teachers are covering the workload of two teachers; "our special ed teacher has 26 students that she is supervising and the teacher of record for," she said, describing strain on services and classroom supports.

Nikki Gurnan, a 22‑year teacher at Eastwood, praised some district supports but highlighted a lack of social‑studies textbooks in fourth and fifth grades. She said the district directed teachers to use the reading series and an online discovery platform instead of a dedicated social‑studies text, and argued that "fourth and fifth grade are getting overlooked" because older elementary students "are reading to learn" and need curriculum materials aligned with Indiana and U.S. history standards. She asked the board to "please consider adopting a social studies curriculum for at least fourth and fifth grade for the next school year."

Sarah Forshanger, a 33‑year veteran teacher who currently teaches at Oslo, described ongoing vacancies and inconsistent communication about how positions will be staffed after several colleagues were transferred over the summer. "We need to feel supported, heard, and seen," Forshanger said, adding that uncertainty lowers staff morale and that students suffer when teachers lack reliable staffing and answers from the district.

Superintendent Dr. Hough acknowledged district and statewide challenges in public remarks later in the meeting, characterizing recent legislation as having long‑term impact on schools and saying he would discuss those impacts with legislators at upcoming events. Board members did not vote on operational changes tied to the public comments at the Sept. 9 meeting.

Ending: The concerns raised by classroom staff at the public‑comment portion focused on pay structure for substitutes, class sizes and curriculum materials for upper elementary grades. District officials presented staffing and contract items later in the meeting, but the board did not take direct action on substitute pay or a new social‑studies adoption at this session.