Students tell school committee teacher contract issues are cancelling field trips and clubs

Several students addressed the Hampden‑Wilbraham Regional School District school committee during public comment to describe how an expired teacher contract and teachers’ work‑to‑rule practices have affected classroom enrichment and extracurricular activities.

"Teachers haven't just taken on the role of a teacher. They've been students' counselors or their second parents," said Madeline Blue, a sophomore who called on the committee to provide pay that reflects teachers’ roles and contributions. Caroline Huber, another sophomore, said that because many teachers are following work‑to‑rule, required preparations for field trips and out‑of‑class activities have been curtailed and clubs meet less frequently.

Nicholas Ciancarelli and Mario Garcia, also sophomores, echoed those concerns: they described teachers who spend personal money on materials, the loss of after‑school help, and the loss of field‑trip opportunities that enrich learning. Committee members thanked the students for speaking and acknowledged the impacts; no contract settlement was announced in the meeting.

The committee is simultaneously considering a list of potential budget reductions and fee increases that, if enacted, could further alter programs and extracurriculars — a context that students and several members referenced during discussion.

Next steps: the committee will present its budget and the list of potential reductions at an advisory meeting and a public hearing in mid‑March; students and parents will have opportunities to comment then.