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Teachers and transportation staff urge board to improve ELD supports and bus practices
Summary
At the public hearing teachers urged an ELD working group and requested school tours; a transportation worker supported electric buses and a portal to monitor behavior and supported a photo/video consent policy to reduce disruptions on buses.
English‑learner teachers and transportation staff used public comment to press the board for practical steps to support students.
Kim Dalehausen, an ELD teacher at Brashear High School, urged the board "to form an ELD working group or working group of educators, instructional specialists, multilingual paraprofessionals, out of school time partners, and English learner students and alumni before voting on the plan as it is." She recounted a classroom example of a recently arrived student who made progress when given targeted, foundational literacy instruction and said educators need a seat at planning tables so ELD learners receive consistent support.
Deepa Barthelod, also an ELD teacher at Brashear, asked the board for a 60‑minute meeting with teachers and recommended a school tour so decisionmakers could better understand day‑to‑day supports for newcomers and SIFE (students with interrupted formal education) learners.
On transportation, April Klisora (who works at a bus terminal) described upcoming electric buses and a portal the department plans to use to track student bus behavior and share information with parents, coordinators and supervisors. She said electrics are quieter and easier for drivers to supervise and supported clearer discipline processes tied to restorative practices. Annabelle Chips’ survey summary, presented earlier, also noted community support for a proposed photo/video ban in the updated cell‑phone policy: "85% found the ban somewhat or very necessary," she said, reflecting survey respondents' concerns about photos and videos posted without consent.
No formal board action was taken during the hearing. Commenters asked that staff engage teachers in planning and that the board consider trials (school tours, pilots, working groups) before implementing major changes.
