Parents, teachers and union press Lennox board for transparency and protections for special-education students
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Summary
Dozens of parents, teachers and union leaders urged the board to slow the process, hold site-specific town halls and ensure Individualized Education Program (IEP) protections if schools consolidate. The union pressed for better compensation, permanent class-size and planning protections and careful attention to staff transitions.
A series of public commenters, teachers and a union representative told the board they were worried about the human impact of possible school consolidations and called for more transparency and site-specific outreach.
A representative of the Lennox Teachers Association urged the board to "consider the human issue" before casting a final vote and asked the district to commit publicly to respectful transitions for displaced employees. The union speaker said educators expect a "genuine exploration of all the possibilities" and urged the board to negotiate compensation, class-size limits and guaranteed planning time as part of any long-term agreements.
Multiple parents sought town halls at affected campuses and detailed reviews of facilities, traffic and program placement. "Please go and see the office, cafeteria, health office, classrooms, engineering, and computer labs," one speaker said, urging trustees to inspect sites personally before deciding which campus could accommodate a merged school.
Parents and teachers repeatedly raised concerns about special-education students and services. One parent said her child "is happy to go to school every day" and warned that changing schools could be harmful. Another asked whether the district had compared the cost of upgrading other campuses to meet accessibility and program needs.
The union representative also asked the board to treat class-size and teacher planning protections as permanent rather than temporary memoranda. She said that district staff and teachers have already made concessions in past years and urged investment in compensation and working conditions to retain educators.
Speakers asked for transparent timelines, for the district to respond to rumors and for any transition to honor IEP commitments. The board and superintendent repeatedly told the audience that IEP services are binding and will continue to be honored during any transition.