Teachers, counselors raise concerns about middle‑school block schedule, staffing and involuntary transfers

Several educators and school counselors used the audience‑opportunity portion of the meeting to urge the board to revisit recent changes at the middle-school level and to examine staffing and transfer practices.

Central Middle School sixth‑grade language‑arts teacher Anna Lemon told the board the shift to a block schedule “has posed daily challenges in our classrooms,” saying extended class periods that meet every other day have created gaps in learning, reduced retention and fewer opportunities for sustained teacher contact. Lemon said the change undermines “true teaming” at the middle-school level and that language‑arts instruction will split into two separate courses next year, increasing complexity for students and scheduling burdens for staff. She said the change was made for scheduling and cost reasons rather than academic benefit and asked the board to prioritize decisions that reflect student and staff needs.

Liz Baumgartner, a sixth‑grade counselor at Central, asked the board to review the district’s use of policy 413r (professional staff assignments and transfers). Baumgartner said she was notified of an involuntary reassignment and that the decision followed her professional advocacy and requests for contractual clarification. She urged the board to examine how involuntary transfers are handled, to require written rationale for staffing realignments, to ensure staff have meaningful opportunities to participate in the process and to prioritize continuity for students: “Continuity and counseling relationships leads to improved academic performance, social skills and mental health for students,” she said, citing the American School Counseling Association’s guidance.

East Middle School teacher Sally Dietzenbach told the board teachers are reluctant to provide candid feedback because they fear retaliation, and that staff input is underused in district decision-making. “I should love my job, but I don't,” Dietzenbach said, describing rising anxiety and staff departures. Speakers cited building-level turnover: Baumgartner said Central lost six mental-health professionals since 2022 and Lemon said more than 100 educators had left the district over the last several years; both urged the board to examine causes and consider remedial action.

Board members and the superintendent acknowledged the concerns and said the district would review the issues raised. The board heard requests for: (1) a review of policy 413r procedures for involuntary transfers, (2) more authentic two-way communication with teachers when proposals are developed, and (3) consideration of scheduling changes that better support teaming and continuity for middle‑school students.

Ending: The board did not take immediate formal action during the meeting but members asked staff to follow up and to bring data, written rationales and recommended processes back for board review.