Rice teacher tells board student behavior is escalating; requests more appropriate placements and supports
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Summary
A Rice School teacher told the board that student behavioral incidents are worsening, that staff and students are being harmed, and asked the district to consider placements and additional therapeutic supports when in‑school interventions are insufficient.
At her first board meeting on Oct. 27, Rice School teacher Katie Hartman said school staff and students are experiencing escalating behavioral incidents and asked the board to pursue appropriate placements and supports for students whose needs exceed what schools can provide.
"I don't feel like things are being handled, and the behaviors are just getting worse," Hartman said. "We're not taking care of our kids, and we're not taking care of our staff either. Our staff's being hurt. Other kids in the classroom are being hurt, and our kids aren't being taken care of. They're scared to come to school."
Hartman asked the board to consider alternative placements and additional therapy for students who need services beyond what the district can provide in class. A board member encouraged Hartman to share specifics offline to avoid identifying individuals; the board said district staff have plans and that administrators would meet with her after the meeting to address concerns.
No formal policy change or motion was taken at the meeting; Hartman's comments were recorded during the public comment portion of the agenda.
Why it matters: The teacher described conditions that she said risk staff and student safety and asked the district to evaluate placement and therapeutic options when in‑school measures are insufficient.