Educators tell SSD board involuntary reassignments and salary freeze are driving departures

At the May 2026 meeting of the Special School District Board of Education, a string of educators and staff delivered personal testimony describing job-related injuries, involuntary reassignments, a proposed salary freeze and organizational decisions they say have damaged morale and student stability.

Cassie Rushing, a special education teacher, said she was injured on the job in November and has not been able to return to the classroom, and urged the board to examine patterns that she says have contributed to staff shortages and unsafe or unsustainable working conditions. 'I was injured on the job. Since that day, I have not been able to return to the classroom,' Rushing said.

Denise Hill, who identified herself as a 25-year educator, spoke directly about agenda item 6.05 and urged the board not to freeze certified teacher salaries, saying a freeze 'tells teachers that their experience, dedication, and daily impact are not a priority.'

Several speakers described involuntary classroom moves. A statement read on behalf of Elizabeth Engelmayer said she had been involuntarily moved after 22 years in a K2 classroom and that removing a long-term paraprofessional partner harms students who rely on routine. Asaki Carr, whose statement was read at the meeting, said she is being moved after nearly a decade of service and wrote that 'rewarding high performance with disruptive involuntary displacement has left me feeling stripped of my voice and devalued.'

Lindsey Weatherby announced she has resigned and taken a position at another district, connecting the move to feeling undervalued and to workload and compensation decisions. SDNA negotiations chair David Hope told the board that DESE shows SSD with a large surplus and urged the district to use resources to address staff pay; Hope also criticized bargaining conduct and said the union’s final salary proposal would have cost less than 1.6% of the surplus.

Board President Meeks acknowledged the depth of concern and said the board is taking comments seriously, that conversation is ongoing, and that the district will explore mediation with bargaining partners. The board later approved the FY27 budget and scheduled closed meetings to address legal and personnel matters related to negotiations.

Why it matters Teachers and student-facing staff are central to daily operations; testimony about forced reassignments, loss of paraprofessional continuity and a salary freeze raises questions about retention and program stability in special education classrooms.

What’s next Board members scheduled closed meetings in late May and early June to discuss legal and personnel matters, and the board announced a June 9 work study to continue budget and bargaining discussions.