Parents urge board to keep experienced pre‑K teacher amid staffing changes

Two parents used the board's public-comment period on April 16 to ask for stability and clearer communication for the district's pre-kindergarten program.

Kathleen Palmer, who identified herself as a parent of three Hamilton Central students and as a New York State'licensed in-home day-care provider, read a prepared letter saying, "I would like to submit this letter as a representation of my deep concern for the changes being made to the pre k program at Hampton Central Central School." She argued that replacing a long-standing pre-K teacher with someone less experienced or increasing class size "would be overwhelming" for both students and teachers and could be "detrimental to these young children and their development." (Palmer asked the board to consider stability as a priority.)

Erin Cadway, who said she and her daughter are part of the small-town community and expected her child to start pre-K in September, told the board she has heard the teacher may be leaving and asked for reassurance and clearer communication to parents about who will staff pre-K next year. Cadway suggested parents or alumni might be willing to help support a full-day program if the district pursues options.

Board members thanked both speakers and noted the concerns would be part of the broader budget and staffing discussion; no immediate staffing decision was recorded in the public portion of the meeting. The board is scheduled to adopt its budget on May 21; administrators said they would continue to monitor revenue and staffing decisions as state aid numbers become final.