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Substitutes and community members press Jefferson County board on safety staffing, pay and immigration
Summary
Public commenters at the June 9 Jefferson County Board of Education meeting urged the district to reconsider cutting a school safety administrator, warned about a replacement role that will float between campuses, criticized reductions to long-term substitute pay that may cost some substitutes about $8,500 a year, and raised concerns about ICE activity near schools.
Several community members used the public-comment period on June 9 to press the Jefferson County Board of Education on staffing and student safety decisions.
Rachel Grot, a substitute teacher with multiple years in JCPS, said she recently learned a safety administrator position at Mesique Middle School had been cut and will be replaced by a "risk assessment coordinator" who will float between two schools. "I do not know what we are going to do without this gentleman," she said, arguing the change spreads duties and pays less while reducing on-campus capacity for de-escalation and relationship-based supports.
Retired teacher and long-term substitute Jerry Durban said the district's decision to cut long-term substitute pay will make it harder for long-term subs to serve. He outlined prior pay arrangements and said the board's changes reduce daily pay and bonuses, which he estimated could amount to an "$8,500 cut for the year" for some long-term substitutes.
Two other speakers raised concerns tied to immigration enforcement and testing. Dr. Mario Ransom, who founded the Solidarity Project, said federal immigration policy and enforcement have disrupted families and students and urged the district not to rely on test scores as the principal metric for student success: "Test culture almost destroyed me ... Compassion will." Joel Vigano, a concerned citizen, said ICE is present in and around schools and called for clearer, actionable policies for all school staff and campus adults when enforcement agents appear.
District leaders did not announce immediate changes during public comment but earlier in the meeting reiterated that personnel matters and specific employee allegations are handled according to state law and board policy. The board did not take formal action on the concerns voiced by commenters during the meeting.
What happens next: the superintendent's office said it will follow up on issues raised during public comment as appropriate and staff will report back to the board when there are takeaways requiring board attention.
