Parents and teachers press Pottsgrove School Board over repeated violent classroom behavior; board pledges review and follow-up

Dozens of parents, teachers and staff told the Pottsgrove School Board on Sept. 23 that repeated violent and disruptive behavior at Ringing Rocks Elementary School is making classrooms unsafe for students and staff.

The public-comment period at the school board’s September meeting ran for more than an hour as residents described assaults on students and staff, classroom evacuations and what several speakers called a lack of timely communication from the district. "I should not have to worry about what's going on in the classroom," said Kelly Tresdale, a Lower Pottsgrove resident and grandmother of district students. "A child is allowed repeatedly traumatize their classroom and even assault other students and teachers before something is done."

The comments came during a meeting in which board members also approved routine personnel items and several contracts. Many speakers asked for immediate, visible steps — including additional trained staff in buildings, clearer parent communication and an independent review. Robert Biggio, a Ringing Rocks parent, urged a formal investigation: "I am here today asking for the responsible thing and formally requesting that the board perform a thorough investigation into this matter to determine what, how, why, and who is responsible for the culture in the Ringing Rocks Building," he said.

Teachers and staff described injuries and repeated incidents in classrooms. "I was attacked from behind by my student… I suffered injuries to my back and neck, which today I still have problems with," said Tina Capiello, who identified herself as both a taxpayer and an employee at the high school. Brianna Robinson, who identified herself as a Ringing Rocks teacher, told the board the district has raised these concerns to the board in prior years with little public follow‑up: "Meeting after meeting, the Board sat here and listened… never did we hear anything after that from the Board or is put out to the public to say, ‘Hey, this is what we're looking at,'" she said.

Several parents said young children are frightened and are being asked at home how to respond to violent behavior. Laura McCorkle pointed to the district’s discipline code in the elementary handbook and asked why procedures are not being followed: "We are deliberately being kept in the dark," she said. Multiple speakers described students being hit, bitten, choked or otherwise injured, and reported that classroom routines and learning time have been disrupted by evacuations and restraints.

Superintendent Dr. Finney responded directly to the public comments and described steps the district has already taken this year to expand behavioral supports. "We have added two special education teachers to Rocks, we have tripled the number of RBTs, we've created a new position that is designed to work with students and teachers and that is currently occupied by Karen Ottaviano," he said. He also told the room that the district has contracted outside mental health supports and increased the number of BCBAs (board-certified behavior analysts) in the district. "We are approving another RBT tonight," he said, noting that personnel approvals were included on the meeting consent agenda that passed.

Dr. Finney acknowledged parents’ demand for clearer communication and immediate actions. "I will personally be inviting you to a meeting where we can talk specifically about your child and your experiences," he said, and added that the district team will meet to identify actionable steps. He also said the Rocks team is meeting the next day and that the district has scheduled internal planning work on an upcoming act‑80 day.

Speakers pressed for faster and more specific follow-up. Amanda Kubik, participating online, asked the board to commit to a one‑week follow‑up; the board president said trustees would meet at the end of the Sept. 23 meeting and attempt to return with a list of action steps to communicate to families. The board also reminded the public that an executive session on personnel and safety is scheduled to follow the public meeting.

The public comment exchange came before the superintendent reported that the district had received acknowledgment from the Pennsylvania Positive Behavior Support Network that the elementary schools and the middle school "met criteria for implementing school wide positive behavior interventions and supports with fidelity for the 24–25 school year." That PBIS acknowledgment was presented by district staff later in the meeting as background to behavioral work underway.

Parents and teachers said they want immediate changes in school safety practices — including additional trained staff, better notification to parents when incidents occur, and enforcement of the discipline code. Several speakers recommended a third‑party review or independent investigation; others urged stronger accountability for families of students whose behavior repeatedly injures others. Board members and the superintendent said they would convene and try to provide a timeline for follow‑up communications to the community.

What happens next: the board approved a set of personnel and support‑staff items on consent during the meeting (agenda items 8.1–8.9, which include approvals of support‑staff appointments and an assistant in behavioral support). Trustees scheduled an internal meeting at the close of the session to discuss safety and personnel, and the superintendent invited parents to follow‑up meetings focused on specific students and classrooms. The next regular board meeting is set for Oct. 14, when the board will receive committee reports and could provide further updates.

The public comments on Sept. 23 underline persistent concerns among parents and staff at Ringing Rocks over student behavior, classroom safety and district communication. Trustees said they will pursue immediate and medium‑term steps; parents said they will continue to press for transparent, specific actions and a durable plan to restore safe learning conditions.