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Teachers urge board to settle contract and address staffing as turnover rises
Summary
Multiple teachers and the union representative told the board they have seen high staff turnover and urged a timely contract settlement to retain experienced educators, citing rising class sizes, reduced course options and lost prep time as pressures on classroom conditions.
Teachers and the district's union president told the board during public comment that staffing and contract delays are harming retention and classroom conditions.
Mike Ward, president of the Clintondale Education Association and a 26-year district teacher, told the board the district has lost 82 of 118 staff over three years (32 since last summer, he said) and urged the board to complete a contract "sooner than later" to help retain experienced educators. Teachers who followed raised similar concerns: growing class sizes, fewer course options, loss of preparation time to cover for absent staff and prior concessions under earlier contracts.
Board members and leaders acknowledged the concerns and indicated they want a negotiated agreement. The board did not take a formal action on bargaining at this meeting but heard the comments during the general public comment period.
Speakers asked the board to value educators and to move promptly on contract talks; several speakers framed retention as an essential component of maintaining instructional quality.
