West Middle School staff tell board they're "weary" as teacher vacancies disrupt instruction

During public comment at the Rockford Public Schools board meeting, Dee Edgerton — a teacher who said she represents staff at West Middle School — described acute staffing shortages and student-safety incidents and urged the district for concrete action rather than "job posting and empty promises." She said the school is "down 6 math teachers," that 462 of 818 students are not receiving grade-level math instruction, and that intervention and certified staffing gaps are compromising classroom instruction and student supports.

Edgerton described a recent hallway fight that required staff to physically shield a student and said it took several minutes for additional staff to arrive at dismissal because of coverage shortages. She said many staff are over-assigned ("two-thirds of our counselors have taken on an extra class") and pleaded for "actual action, not just a job posting and empty promises," closing by saying "we're West Warriors," explaining why people stay despite difficult conditions.

Another public commenter, Carol Bailey, urged the board to adopt clear guidelines and procedures in the event immigration enforcement agents visit schools, recommending posting guidance and designating school properties and school-sponsored activities as ICE-free zones where possible.

Board response: The board acknowledged the public comments and thanked speakers; presenters later addressed system supports and central-office service sessions intended to surface and solve school-level issues.

Sources: Public comment portion of the board meeting (statements by Dee Edgerton and Carol Bailey).