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Parents tell Pottsgrove school board elementary classrooms are unsafe, urge stricter consequences and more behavioral support
Summary
Two parents told the Pottsgrove School District board that extreme student behaviors at elementary schools are frequent and traumatic for young children and staff, and urged consistent consequences, more behavioral staffing and stronger functional behavior planning.
Two parents urged the Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors on May 20 to take immediate steps after describing repeated violent and disruptive student behavior at the districts elementary schools.
Laura McCorkle, a Lower Pottsgrove resident and parent, told the board that students and teachers have been "slapped, punched, and kicked," that desks and chairs have been thrown and that children are running and jumping on furniture. "Physical aggression must have 0 tolerance in our schools, requiring immediate contact and suspension," McCorkle said, and she called for consistent consequences and more trained behavioral staff.
Christina Fisher, a parent from Upper Pottsgrove, also described recurring outbursts that have forced classes to evacuate into hallways and said teachers lack sufficient resources and follow-through to keep classrooms safe. Fisher said functional behavior assessments and evidence-based intervention plans must be developed and consistently followed and that "without that piece of the puzzle, there's no way to prevent inappropriate and aggressive behavior from spiraling out of control." She said the district's PBIS foundation is valuable but not sufficient on its own.
A board member thanked both parents, expressed that the board shares their concern, and said the comments were noted by the board and by the superintendent. The board did not take formal action during the meeting on the parents' requests; however, McCorkle and a board member said they planned to meet the following day to continue the conversation.
Ending: Parents asked for clearer protocols, more behavioral staff and consistent follow-through after incidents. District staff and the board will need to provide documentation or proposed next steps in a future meeting to show how the district intends to address the specific requests.
