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Teachers urge clearer lockdown messages and protected scheduling for music; public commenter questions superintendent retirement bonus
Summary
During public comment a Henley Middle teacher said a mistaken lockdown message caused student distress and asked for clearer district communications; she also urged protecting sequential music classes. Another commenter urged the board to rescind a reported superintendent retirement bonus and proposed term limits.
Public comment highlighted safety communications and program scheduling concerns and included a call for financial accountability.
Sarah Kaitton, a Henley Middle teacher who identified herself during public comment, described an incident earlier that day in which her school received a lockdown message that many teachers later understood to be a miscommunication. She said students and staff experienced trauma responses — "I had a girl who was just balling in tears because our kids associate lockdowns with shooters" — and recommended clearer, faster notification procedures and consistent release protocols so that students are not left in distress. The superintendent’s office later acknowledged the anomaly and said it would follow up with building administrators.
Kaitton also urged stronger protection for music scheduling, citing avoidable conflicts (for example, advanced freshman English scheduled at the same time as wind ensemble) that force students to choose between sequential music ensembles and other classes. She asked the board to support building‑level scheduling practices that preserve access to music programs that build on year‑to‑year skills.
Emma Tibi, another speaker who identified herself, voiced support for the proposed behavior program and suggested practices such as looping classes and more frequent outdoor breaks. Tibi also said she had "heard the board has approved a retirement package bonus for the superintendent exceeding a million dollars" and urged the board to rescind the bonus and involve students, staff and the public in deciding an alternate use of funds. The board did not take immediate action on that request during the meeting; transcript discussion after public comment noted personnel and contract matters but no vote or rescission was recorded.
What’s next: the district said it would follow up with building administrators about the lockdown notification anomaly; scheduling and curriculum access requests may be addressed in operational planning and future meetings.
