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Parents and teachers urge board to preserve programs and reconsider staffing change to special-education position
Summary
Public commenters warned that rejecting transfer students and cutting programs would force large classroom-size increases and program losses; special-education staff urged the board to reconsider replacing a key public-agency representative whose expertise they said is vital to compliance.
Multiple community members addressed the board during the Nov. 10 meeting, urging the board to weigh the classroom consequences of state funding changes and local decisions.
Becky Creech, a science teacher and parent, told the board that severe funding cuts in a prior cycle led her previous district to expand teacher workloads and increase class sizes, and she warned that similar choices in West Lafayette would erode electives and risk layoffs. "The state funding cuts to public schools are irresponsible, but turning away money from transfer students would be irresponsible for our school corporation," Creech said during public comment.
Mary Dell Forbes, a 14th-year English teacher at West Lafayette Junior Senior High School, urged accepting transfers and considering a higher referendum rate rather than cutting music, arts and AP programming. She argued that charging for consumable textbooks or raising the referendum could protect classroom offerings.
Becky Swanson, a special-education teacher, told the board the district informed staff that the public-agency representative, Holly Walker, will not retain the same role next year. Swanson said the position requires detailed knowledge of special-education law and practice and urged the board to allow internal applicants to apply or otherwise reconsider the decision to avoid compliance risks and loss of institutional knowledge.
Student Tara Kim invited board members to a Dec. 7 benefit concert that will raise funds for Tippecanoe CASA and described student-organized efforts to support foster children.
What's next: The board heard the comments and continued with agenda business; staff and board members acknowledged the concerns and said the district will continue to consider staffing and program choices as budget work continues.
Attribution: Quotes and claims above are drawn from public-comment speakers on Nov. 10 as recorded in the meeting transcript.
