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Teacher and parents urge Nome board to retain SPED director as staff voice technology concerns
Summary
At the Feb. 12 meeting, an NES special‑education teacher and parents urged the Nome Public Schools board to retain Director of SPED Mary Donaldson, citing technology compatibility problems and concern for students; the board acknowledged public concern while staff reports and budget anxieties were also discussed.
NES special education teacher Jason Brown told the Nome Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 12 that technology incompatibilities with mentors’ equipment have hampered special education work and contributed to staff frustration. Brown spoke during public comment and advocated for the board to retain Director of Special Education Mary Donaldson.
Parents Yusuf and Sharon Rida also addressed the board during public comment, saying they were concerned for their children in the SPED program if Mary Donaldson were to leave and urging the board to retain her and the staff she had brought into the program. The board’s minutes record the public comments but do not include any formal personnel action or vote on SPED leadership at this meeting.
Board members and Superintendent Jamie Burgess acknowledged community concerns during the Board and Superintendent’s Comment section. Superintendent Burgess provided a separate report (attached to the minutes) and said the district would continue work on several priorities, including teacher housing and outreach; no board motion on SPED staffing was recorded that would change current personnel or contract status.
Student Representative Renee Brown voiced concern that potential budget cuts could lead to teacher position reductions. Member Sigvanna Tapqaq and Member Darlene Trigg discussed recent legislative advocacy and emphasized the importance of teachers; Member Tapqaq also expressed appreciation for a new memorandum of understanding on tribal consultation.
The minutes show the board acknowledged the concern and noted reports from Director Mary Donaldson and the district’s leadership earlier in the meeting, but they do not record a specific board response or planned corrective steps regarding the technology issues raised by Jason Brown.
