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Teachers and union press board over class sizes, staffing and communication
Summary
Union leaders and teachers told the board the district has oversized classes, missing safe‑haven/bus‑duty contracts and inconsistent evaluation procedures; Superintendent Martinez said administration is addressing scheduling and will notify staff about safe‑haven staffing.
At the Sept. 16 Pleasantville Board of Education meeting, multiple PEA representatives and teachers urged faster action on staffing and clearer communication with the board.
Kathy Watson, PEA president, asked who will provide before‑ and after‑school 'safe haven' coverage and whether the district intends to continue using local vendor Mazzeo (she said a fresh‑fruit-and‑vegetable program on the agenda totals about $50,000). Watson also asked about custodial work at Leeds Avenue and whether outside contractors had been authorized; Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Martinez responded that emergent services were engaged to ensure safe openings and that information is provided to the board for approval.
Danielle Percy, PEA vice president and a middle school teacher, told the board that many middle‑school classes were scheduled at sizes between 26 and 32 students. "By state law, our class sizes are not to exceed 24 students," Percy said, and she said some self‑contained special‑education classes had been combined contrary to IEP instructions. Percy told the board the union would grieve the situation if it wasn't fixed. Martinez said principals are required to confirm staffing for safe havens and that administration is "leveling this week" to correct oversized classes.
Rhonda Moore McQueen (PEA vice president of support) asked the board to commit to including all impacted stakeholders — teachers, principals, support staff and security — in major policy or code changes. Later in public comment, PEA leaders raised concerns about inconsistent Danielson binder requirements across schools and asked for standardized evaluation procedures and clearer pathways to send liaison notes and other materials to the full board (the superintendent said liaison committee notes will be attached to her report and forwarded to the board secretary).
The board acknowledged the concerns and the superintendent said the liaison committee will meet as required by contract and that the district will include PEA notes as an attachment to the superintendent's liaison report. The administration committed to notifying principals and staff about interim restroom access and safe‑haven staffing details.
