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Teachers and parents urge Pinellas board to reverse staff reductions, cite rising class sizes and student needs
Summary
Teachers and parents at the April 8 meeting described projected staff reductions and larger class sizes as harmful to student learning and social-emotional supports, and asked the board to prioritize restoring positions.
Multiple teachers and parents told the Pinellas County School Board on April 8 that proposed staffing reductions and higher student-to-teacher ratios would diminish supports for students with complex needs and make classroom differentiation untenable.
Marco Rangel, a first-grade teacher at Azalea Elementary, said his school is projected to lose 11 educators and staff and he expects class sizes of 21 to 22 students at the start of the next year. “It's disheartening to walk into a new school year already burnt out, knowing I'll be expected to meet the unique academic, behavioral, and emotional needs of two dozen young children on my own,” Rangel said.
Tracy McConnell, a third-grade teacher at Pinellas Central Elementary, described the emotional toll on students and families and urged the board to adopt the district's Safe School Resolution to reassure students. “Kids need our reassurance and leadership now more than ever. If Pinellas plans to maintain our A, we need to make sure that we send the clear message that our schools are safe for all kids,” McConnell said.
Speakers asked the board to reconsider reductions to instructional and support staff, to provide clearer public records about staffing decisions and to prioritize student safety and small-group instruction. The meeting record does not show a board vote to restore positions; public comments were entered for the board's consideration.
