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Teachers and advocates tell SSD board staffing crisis is harming students
Summary
Public commenters, union leaders and SSD teachers told the board Nov. 11 that special‑education caseloads and staff shortages are creating safety and instructional harms and urged the district to pursue pay, staffing and transparency measures.
Public commenters and education staff urged the Special School District of Saint Louis County board on Nov. 11 to take immediate action to address staffing shortfalls that, they said, are leaving students without required services.
Lindsay Wetherbee, who identified herself as a special‑education teacher, told the board she is “seriously considering taking a 6 to 10000 dollar pay cut because I can't do this anymore,” and said her caseload is “over double what I'm supposed to be,” warning that students in partner districts will suffer if staffing does not improve. "My students, your children, those are the people who are going to suffer," she said.
Tammy Magrelis, president of the St. Louis National Education Association (SDNEA), described classrooms that are "missing certified teachers" and paraprofessionals spread across too many students, calling current workloads "unsafe" and arguing that the district must pursue "real solutions, manageable workloads" and a culture that "protects, not punishes" staff. "We're losing me," she said, summarizing staff departures.
Donna Barton, speaking for students, said IEP minutes were going unserved and accused the district of fighting families in court rather than working with them. "Even when SSD wins, it is still a child who loses and often another $100,000 in legal fees," she said.
Denise Hill, a 25‑year SSD special‑education teacher, told the board the district’s use of international hires through the iRiseTeach program created instability when positions were filled late; she read a student note that said, in part, that an instructor's accent made it hard for the student to follow lessons.
Speakers called on the board to be transparent about staffing data and to consider funding options — including a levy — to stabilize classrooms. Paul Kaufman urged the board to publish the finalized annual school board report and exit‑survey results that he said were missing from the CSIP packet.
Board leadership acknowledged the concerns, said administrators are reviewing staffing data and exploring short‑ and long‑term strategies, and noted a teacher vacancy rate of about 6% and that bereavement leave totals more than 10,500 hours through mid‑October.
The public comments preceded routine approvals of consent and agenda items; the meeting then moved into presentations and votes on CSIP and budget adjustments. The board later approved a motion to convene a closed session to discuss litigation and personnel matters.
