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Teachers, parents and students urge Middletown board to retain STEM teacher, IB and family liaison roles in face of cuts
Summary
During public comment at the March 31 workshop, students, parents, teachers and the teachers'union warned proposed cuts to a Mcdana STEM teacher, IB at Lawrence, TAG programming and family liaison positions would undermine the district's equity goals and harm vulnerable students.
Dozens of parents, teachers and students urged the Middletown Board of Education on March 31 to preserve school programs and staff targeted for elimination in the superintendent's proposed budget.
At the microphone: students spoke of direct classroom impacts, parents argued the programs drove families to remain in or move into parts of town, and educators warned that cutting specialized staff would increase reliance on costly placements or widen achievement gaps.
Key public remarks - Student plea: "I don't know why you're making budget cuts to teachers because they really care about their students," said Nia Wrightwell, a Middletown High School sophomore, who said cuts would remove vital classroom supports. - STEM and TAG at Mcdana: Multiple speakers, including current and former students and parents, said removing the dedicated STEM teacher would undercut Mcdana's identity as a STEM school and reduce in-house TAG programming that drew families to the neighborhood. - IB at Lawrence: Elizabeth Reid, an IB coordinator, told the board the IB program aligns with the district's stated portrait of a global citizen and said the district may terminate IB authorization at any year-end without penalty; she urged a fuller review of program outcomes beyond state test scores. - Family engagement and liaisons: Family engagement liaisons and community members described home visits and direct wraparound work that they said cannot be easily absorbed by nurses or counselors; one liaison asked the board to consider converting 12-month roles to 10-month positions rather than eliminating them.
Union and teacher warnings Robera Downer, president of the Middletown Federation of Teachers, said reductions to interventionists and guidance will worsen achievement gaps and push more students toward the most restrictive and costly placements. Several teachers, including mid-career and early-career educators, described the importance of small classes for differentiated instruction.
Administrators' response Administrators acknowledged the public comments, reiterated enrollment and grant changes that shaped the proposals, and said some responsibilities could be redistributed to nurses, social workers or existing staff while the district seeks alternative funding sources.
What happens next Public testimony concluded before board members moved to adjourn; the BOE scheduled a vote on the budget at a follow-up meeting. Commenters said they would attend the next meeting to press the board to restore program staff.
