Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety And Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jacobson Middle School staff and students urge board to keep third administrator; teachers report violent incidents at Tomkins
Summary
Staff and students at Jacobson Middle School pleaded with the Tehachapi Unified board to retain a third administrator, citing equity and safety for nearly 900 students. Several teachers also reported a violent student at Tomkins Elementary and asked the superintendent for an update and interventions.
Jacobson Middle School staff and students urged the Tehachapi Unified School District board on May 12 to reverse a planned reduction of a third administrator at JMS, saying the cut would harm student safety and equity.
Malia McCormick, speaking for JMS staff, said the middle school's population and behavioral needs warrant three administrators and described the campus as having among the greatest behavioral challenges in the district. "Removing the third admin position is a disservice to our students, families, and the employees of this district who serve at JMS," she said, asking the board to add the staffing concern to a future agenda for reconsideration. Student Rigby Colby described Miss Goldstein as a daily source of support and asked trustees to keep that staff member at JMS.
Separately during public comment, first-grade teacher Bethany Fineran described repeated violent attacks by one student in her class over the past 10 months, saying students and staff have been injured and that she has "exhausted all of [her] options" with principals, the union and district offices. "This student has punched, kicked, shoved, stabbed, whipped, and threatened students and staff nearly every day," Fineran said. She asked Superintendent Bell to update the board on actions taken.
Trustees discussed related policy issues during a first reading of board policy 5144.1 (suspension, expulsion and due process). Several trustees noted state legal limits on discipline (the transcript cites sections of the Education Code such as 48900(k)) and urged district staff to develop clear training and guidance so teachers know when and how the district will support disciplinary actions. Trustee Napier specifically urged the superintendent and staff to quickly dive into the Tomkins incidents and provide support and clarity to teachers.
The board did not announce an immediate staffing reversal at the meeting; trustees requested staff follow up and added the matter to future agenda planning.
