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Parents and teachers urge board to restore elementary field trips and add classroom staff
Summary
Public commenters at the meeting—parents and district teachers—urged reversal of field trip restrictions for elementary students and asked the board to increase in-class adult support after aides were removed from some classrooms.
Several members of the public used the meeting's public comment period to press the board on student experiences and staffing.
Britney Sanders, who identified herself as a McBride Elementary parent, spoke against a decision to restrict off-campus field trips for elementary students and urged the board and principals to allow schools that have raised funds to continue trips. "If McBride has the money to pay for transportation and the field trips, we should get to do so," Sanders said, arguing field trips provide educational exposure and engagement for disadvantaged students.
Patrick Berkeley (self-identified St. Helens resident) told the board he could not find the meeting packet online prior to the meeting and asked district staff to post materials earlier so the public can review agenda items in advance. He also noted the Arcadia Holdings, LLC project at the old Boise site and said he believed the city council gave direction to close on that project.
Amanda Howie, a Lewis and Clark teacher, described classroom staffing strains after losing an aide and now teaching first and second grades together. "We just need more adults in classrooms," Howie said, explaining that special education supports and gen-ed instruction are both stretched when aides are unavailable.
Board members thanked commenters and noted items for follow-up; the board did not take immediate formal action on field-trip restrictions at this meeting.
