Parents and community members told the Delaware Valley School District board on a November meeting night that chronic understaffing in special-education classrooms is leaving students without required services and, they alleged, creating safety risks.

"Staff would have to choose which children they would, they could evacuate," said William Mercolano, who introduced a joint statement from several families and said his household has four children in the district. He described staffing in one MDS classroom as four full‑time and three part‑time aides supporting seven wheelchair‑bound students plus two mobile students.

Several parents said they had asked to meet with the superintendent and were denied. "He denied us a meeting," said Jenna Gallano, who said the director of special education, Cheryl Nelson, had been informed and that the issue remained unresolved. Another parent, Megan Wright, said her nonverbal son “was physically hit by a staff member at the school,” and urged clearer communication and stronger supervision when support positions are unfilled.

Speakers pressed the board for specific remedies: more full‑time instructional aides (IAs), improved communication protocols so parents are notified immediately of incidents, a review of how students are grouped in the MDS classroom, and accountability for staff conduct. Parents said they had followed recommended escalation steps and sought to avoid legal action but felt compelled to bring the issue to the board after weeks without change.

Board members responded that they heard the parents and pledged follow-up through the administration. One director asked business staff for a fiscal analysis: "I'd like to ask Mister Hesseling if he can work up a cost of what it would take to have full time IAs district wide," the director said, requesting details on salaries, benefits and the potential tax impact and asking for a report by the Dec. 18 meeting. Several members said they would consider forming a special-education committee to review the concerns in more depth.

The board repeatedly urged parents to continue following the district’s chain-of-command while the administration gathers information. The board did not take a formal vote on staffing changes at the meeting; members said administration would return with data and options at a future meeting.