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Tokay students and teachers urge Lodi Unified to add a fifth agriculture teacher
Summary
Students, teachers and parents from Tokay High told the Lodi Unified board the agriculture program has outgrown four teachers, citing enrollment above 500 and unsafe shop-class sizes; staff were directed to review site staffing and course requests.
Students, teachers and parents from Tokay High School told the Lodi Unified School District Board of Education on April 21 that rapid enrollment growth in the school’s agriculture (FFA/CTE) program requires adding a fifth agriculture teacher.
Student speakers including Cora Duncan and Naomi Cano described crowded classrooms and rising demand. "If Tokay High were to receive a fifth agriculture teacher, we would already have the space for them," Naomi Cano told the board, noting the program grew "by 145 students" this year. Samantha, the McNair student representative, and other students emphasized hands-on learning and leadership opportunities tied to agriculture coursework.
Tokay’s teachers detailed how staffing shortfalls have translated into heavy teaching loads and potential safety and program-quality risks. Agriculture teacher Becky Freeman said the department grew from "388 students to 500 and 33" (as reported to the board) without adding another instructor and described colleagues covering additional sections on 1.20 or 1.40 schedules. "We keep hearing about equity across the programs in the district. We were told no due to space availability," Freeman said, noting a classroom adjacent to hers is now available and a former student teacher is interested in the position.
Nolan McKeown, a fifth-year ag teacher, said course enrollments justify another hire and warned that proposed class-size increases would create unsafe shop conditions. "With our program numbers at 533, and more than a quarter of the campus coming through the ag department in a given day," McKeown said, "we think it's time for an expansion." McKeown also described equipment limits—"having only six welding machines"—that constrain hands-on practice time.
Parents and community supporters, including Amy Blagg (FFA boosters president), urged the board to expedite hiring to avoid losing grant funding and to preserve program quality. Several speakers invited board members to visit the ag open house on May 21.
Board discussion after public comment produced an administrative follow-up: the superintendent asked staff to review staffing and course requests at school sites. The board indicated Mr. Lambert will work with Mr. Avalos to examine staffing, course requests and program interest at Tokay and other affected sites to determine whether a posting or other steps are warranted.
The matter remains a staffing and budget decision for district administrators. Board members did not take an immediate vote on new hires during the meeting; staff said they will include any recommended changes as part of upcoming LCAP and staffing discussions.
The board moved on to other agenda items after the public comment period.
