Parents and teachers urge board to reverse proposed cuts as officials cite enrollment-driven shortfall

Dozens of parents, paraeducators and classroom teachers pressed the Missoula County Public Schools Board of Trustees on staffing proposals they say would raise elementary class sizes and undermine student supports.

Community members described classroom safety and learning concerns and called for alternatives to the cuts. “Don’t increase class sizes. Don’t cut these teachers,” said Jeff Busman, identifying himself as “a parent of a child at Chief Charlo.” Several classroom teachers spoke at length about daily workload, behavior challenges and special-education needs. Emily Earl, a fourth-grade teacher at Hawthorne Elementary, told the board that “filling classrooms to the absolute maximum physical capacity could alleviate some financial strain, [but] the effects will be detrimental to the education the students receive as well as the morale and well-being of the staff.”

The speakers said proposed reductions would force student “leveling” — reassigning families to other neighborhood schools — and could separate siblings. Third-grade teacher Tessa Masters described learning and family disruption if her school loses a teacher and students are reassigned: “If you put 33 children in 1 class, do you think my Gretel…