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SCTA leader praises district steps and urges continued teacher input on rising extreme classroom behaviors
Summary
Teresa Meredith, outgoing president of the Shelbyville Central Teachers Association, told the school board she and peers raised concerns about chronic and extreme classroom behaviors in late 2024 and said an SCTA task force has met with district leaders; she said recommendations are expected in place for the 2026–27 school year.
Teresa Meredith, outgoing president of the Shelbyville Central Teachers Association and a fourth-grade teacher at Loper Elementary, told the Shelbyville Central Schools Board during public comment that teachers first raised alarms about a rise in chronic and extreme classroom behaviors in fall 2024 and asked the board to keep teacher voice central to any response.
"Ensuring the ability of all students to learn and addressing student and staff safety are the highest priorities to SCTA and we believe they are for SCS as well," Meredith said, and she described an SCTA-established extreme behaviors task force that has met with Dr. Vance and other district staff. Meredith said the committee is developing specific actions and strategies that she understands will be in place by the start of the 2026–27 school year.
Meredith thanked district leadership for listening and, speaking personally, expressed appreciation for her working relationship with district staff during her time leading SCTA. She referenced retired teacher JP Slater as a mentor and urged the board to "always ask where is the teacher voice in this issue whenever the challenge ... involves classroom[s]."
In response during board remarks, Dr. Vance said the district has convened a task force, added a counselor at the middle school, increased SRO coverage, and expanded behavior-support staffing where possible. He cited planned measures for next fall including a proposed elementary "reset room" and a level system for the student handbook to address behavior and improve supports for teachers and students.
The board did not take formal action during the public comment period; Meredith’s remarks were heard during the public comment segment at the start of the meeting.
