Teachers, parents and staff press board on safety policy, pods and contract negotiations

A string of public commenters at the Dec. 16 Rockford Public Schools Board meeting urged clearer policy language on law-enforcement interaction at schools, detailed safety and facilities concerns in modular "pod" classrooms, and called on trustees to resolve contract negotiations and address teacher staffing.

Bob Hillenbrand, a resident of Subdistrict C, criticized the draft school-safety policy for not distinguishing federal civil immigration enforcement from routine criminal-law enforcement and warned that the lack of specificity leaves staff and families unsure how the district will respond if federal immigration authorities are present. "The proposed policy gives great deference to federal law enforcement more than to students and their families," Hillenbrand said, and urged the district to require legal-department review before any ICE or federal officer enters a District 205 facility.

Attorney Goldsmith responded during committee discussion by explaining Illinois law responsibilities and the district's practice: administrators are to contact legal and parents when law enforcement asserts it has an order, but the legal team noted there are circumstances where law enforcement cannot share an order due to judicial restrictions.

Teachers and staff described workplace pressures tied to contract negotiations and benefits. Elizabeth Ulrich, a counselor at West Middle School, traced rising premiums and said pay freezes and minimal raises over two decades have left many educators underpaid. Christina McGee, a 32-year educator, said working without a contract is "heartbreaking" and urged respect and stability for educators.

At several elementary and satellite sites, teachers raised facility-safety problems. Jennifer Deacon described changes at the pods she works in: an audible alarm on a back door that can go unanswered for 10'35 minutes, a $52,000 10-foot fence that she called a safety hazard when students are trapped after hours, windows that were screwed shut, mold and septic problems, and classrooms without working air conditioning. "If it is to be so alarming when this door opens, why are the only people who can hear it not able to do anything about it?" Deacon said.

Special-education teacher Danny Perrot told the board the district approved "270.2 positions, the equivalent of 54 full time teachers you do not have," and argued that the district's staffing workarounds cost more than hiring the missing teachers would have. "There are 500 special education students without case managers in their own buildings," Perrot said, and urged the board to fix staffing rather than rely on stipends.

Board members acknowledged the concerns and, in subsequent committee discussion of policy 7.15, directed legal staff to refine language and implementation guidance for administrators and principals; the proposed policy was laid over for further revision.