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Teachers urge Lisbon Board to reconsider special-education and assistant principal cuts
Summary
Three Lisbon educators told the board that proposed 2026–27 reductions to special-education hours and a reduction in an assistant principal role will harm students, disrupt weekly data teams and risk losing experienced staff.
Several Lisbon teachers used the public-comment portion of the March 16 Board of Education meeting to urge the board to revisit planned staffing reductions tied to next year’s budget.
"I respectfully urge the board to consider the long term impact these reductions may have on our students or staff and our school community," said Stacy Garten, the LEA president and a second‑grade teacher, who said the district’s recently hired roles "have made a meaningful and immediate impact" on instruction, data teams and access to mental‑health resources.
Madison Ahern, a second‑grade teacher, described how special‑education teachers and a full‑time assistant principal — "Mrs. Blaine" in her comments — support inclusion, behavior de‑escalation and weekly data‑team work that helps students meet IEP goals. "By limiting this position, we risk losing a valuable member of our district and the necessary assets that a full time position is able to provide," Ahern said.
Jessica Durham Fowler, also a district teacher, called the assistant principal and special‑education staff "incredibly valuable" and said reductions would be "inevitably felt by both students and teachers." The teachers urged the board to weigh the tradeoffs of short‑term savings against impacts on classroom supports and staff retention.
The public comments focused on reductions the speakers identified in special education totaling 0.5 full‑time equivalent (a 0.4 elimination and a 0.1 reduction) and the loss or reduction of an assistant principal position beginning in the 2026–27 budget. Speakers said those changes have already affected weekly data teams, behavior management planning, and access to outside services.
Board members thanked the speakers and did not make immediate decisions during public comment. The board’s finance work continues: the budget and related items will be discussed again at upcoming Board of Finance and full‑board budget sessions, and the board said it will report back to staff and the public as it moves through the process.
