Taft Galloway principal highlights gains and community programs as parents protest planned ASD classroom relocations

Brandon Cox, principal of Taft Galloway Elementary, told the Wayne-Westland Board of Education on March 16 that the school’s enrollment is 422 and described gains in reading fluency and other student supports while outlining community events and mental-health referrals.

“...we have 422,” Cox said, listing programs that he said build student belonging and attendance. He reported an average daily attendance rate of 83.44% and said chronic absenteeism at Taft is 22%, a 3.5 percentage-point improvement from the prior year. Cox highlighted recent test and fluency gains — citing NWEA and an internal “Taft Oral Fluency Growth” measure — and said the school has focused on social-emotional learning, MTSS supports and partnerships that supply clothing and books. He also reported that Care Solace has made 236 communications with Taft families for mental-health supports.

Cox described large, schoolwide events and family partnerships, including a trunk-or-treat that drew what he said was “over 2,000 people,” a Thanksgiving meal program, and a Pistons fundraiser that provided tickets and family transportation.

But the presentation was followed by multiple public comments sharply critical of a district plan to relocate two ASD resource classrooms that are currently housed at Taft Galloway.

Dorothy C. Hagler, a guest teacher with EduStaff who has worked in the district, called the plan “devastating” and urged the board to “please reconsider,” saying Taft’s ASD rooms are high-performing and that removing them will undermine the students who rely on consistent staff.

A parent who identified herself only as a parent told the board she believed the moves were not purely consolidation but ‘‘vindictive’’ and asked that an investigation be conducted. “I strongly speculate that there's a lot of misconduct with and abuse of power within the special education department,” the parent said.

Cassie (surname given in the transcript), a parent of two autistic children at Taft, said she was "totally blindsided" by a phone call notifying her of the closures and called the change “absolutely devastating,” warning that splitting children between schools and losing one-to-one paraprofessionals would harm routines and stability.

Candy Halton, mother of student Jasmine Hobson, told the board she has reported multiple concerns about her daughter's treatment and felt dismissed by school staff. She asked the board to explain the district’s incident-report process and to assign a responsive liaison for follow-up.

Board Chair (moderating) and other board members said public comments would be recorded and that follow-up would be provided at a later meeting. Interim Superintendent Dr. Koss and staff were asked to provide answers to board questions; the chair said requested follow-ups will appear at the next meeting.

What’s next: Parents requested an investigation and immediate reconsideration of the ASD relocations; the board recorded the concerns and directed staff to follow up at the next meeting.