Educators and parents urge Westminster board to use reserves to cut class sizes and settle bargaining

Public comment at the Westminster School District board meeting on April 23 centered on bargaining and class-size reduction, with teachers, retirees, parents and students urging the board to use one-time funds and grade-span adjustment dollars to reduce classroom overcrowding and to finalize a contract with the Westminster Teachers Association (WTA).

"That is not interest based bargaining, and it breaks trust," said Erica Bradley, who addressed the board early in the public-comment period after a joint communique between negotiators was posted and then removed from ParentSquare. Several speakers said the district altered a statement without the union's agreement and characterized the change as evidence of a breakdown in good-faith bargaining.

WTA representatives and teachers repeatedly asked the board to authorize negotiators to expand their bargaining parameters so an agreement can be reached. "We are close, we are ready, and we are asking you to meet this moment with the leadership needed to finish this," one union speaker said, urging the board to move beyond piecemeal or one-time offers.

Speakers also raised district finance questions. Several members of the public referenced district reserve and compensation numbers while asking the board to prioritize investments in classrooms. A parent asserted that the district holds $51,000,000 in unrestricted reserves; another speaker cited a figure of about $73,000,000. A number of commenters said money earmarked for grade-span adjustment or for class-size reduction should be used this year rather than being presented as ‘‘deficit spending.’'

Students and educators described classroom impacts: Juliana Nguyen, a sixth grader, and Juan Calderon, also a sixth grader, told trustees smaller classes make it easier to learn and to get one-on-one help. Paraeducators, retired teachers and long-serving classroom teachers described increased workload, rising behavioral needs and reliance on fundraising or donations for basic classroom supplies.

District officials did not adopt a new bargaining position on the record during the meeting. Superintendent Hansen and other district leaders highlighted community-engagement efforts and program investments in other parts of the meeting, but did not dispute the public commenters’ characterizations on the dais.

What happens next: speakers asked the board to provide clearer direction to the district bargaining team and to place class-size commitments in writing. Board members acknowledged hearing the concerns; no formal change to bargaining parameters was announced during the meeting.

Quote highlights: "We are tired of being away from our students and outside of the classroom. We are close, we are ready..." — public commenter (WTA-affiliated speaker) "Smaller class sizes are not a luxury. They are essential to better outcomes for every student." — parent commenter

Ending: The board recessed to closed session after public comment; many speakers said they would continue to attend meetings until negotiations concluded.