Teachers, parents and staff urge board to pause central‑office cuts, say school‑based positions at risk

Jefferson County Board of Education — During public comment at the board's Feb. 10 work session, dozens of teachers, parents and classified staff urged the board to pause the proposed central‑office reorganization and protect school‑based positions they said are essential to student safety and instruction.

Daniel Horton, a school safety administrator and president of a local Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, told the board that Safety Administrators (SSAs) have reduced arrests and built trust in schools, and cautioned that removing SSAs would harm students. "Removing SSAs is the same as when you are sick and the doctor prescribes some really good medicine... And the doctor decides to stop the medicine for the same illness and eventually come back," Horton said.

Multiple speakers described likely impacts from proposed changes: academic instructional coaches (AICs) and district behavior analysts (BCBAs) said removal of on‑site supports would reduce school capacity to provide individualized interventions and maintain IDEA and equity compliance; bookkeepers and order/receiving clerks warned centralization would slow operations and reduce timely support for classroom needs; the PTA representative warned the Clothing Assistance Program (CAP) would be disrupted if associated positions change without PTA input.

Union and school leaders pressed for transparency and detailed line‑by‑line accounting of the full $132 million in proposed savings, asking for comparisons showing how each school would be affected. The Jefferson County Teachers Association president asked the district to provide JCTA leadership with a summary showing where each dollar of the $132,000,000 in cuts would be realized and a 2526/2627 funding comparison for each school.

Several speakers accused the district of rushing the process and holding "secret" meetings; others called for more time to consult. In response, administrators and board members acknowledged tight timelines related to hiring and transfer windows but said they would continue to work with unions, principals and stakeholders to provide additional detail.

Ending: Public comment closed after dozens of speakers. Many urged the board to use the specially called meeting to consider more detailed data and to prioritize direct student supports when finalizing any organizational changes.