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Teachers, union and parents press West Hempstead board over staff reassignments and tutor cuts
Summary
Teachers, a PTA speaker and a union representative urged West Hempstead school leaders to reconsider reassignments and the elimination of tutoring positions, warning the restructuring could destabilize special-education services and raise class sizes; the superintendent defended a multi-year shift toward competency-based models and said staffing changes were part of that plan.
West Hempstead educators and community members urged the school board on Tuesday to reverse recent personnel moves and staffing cuts they said will harm students, especially those receiving special-education services.
At the start of the public-comment period, Jared Cuffta, a 23-year veteran English teacher in the district, said a petition signed by 130 staff members asked the district to keep Michelle Lambo at the secondary school. "130 adults signed this petition to keep her here," Cuffta said, pleading with the board and administration to "reconsider this decision." His remarks drew applause from the audience.
Jayna, who identified herself as representing the Hampton City Education Association, described a broader reorganization of special-education services: the district has "reclassified numerous positions, and eliminated 22 tutor jobs," she said, and warned that "dissolving established co-teaching partnerships and reshuffling case managers midstream leaves general education teachers under-supported and puts legal IEP accommodations at risk of falling through the cracks." Jayna urged the board to pause the reorganization and assess classroom impacts before the changes are finalized.
Parents also asked for clarity about individual personnel moves. Laurie Magaraci pressed the board to explain where a music teacher would be reassigned and whether the director-of-music role would continue; administrators said the staff member would remain employed by the district but could be assigned to another building, and that personnel details are confidential.
Superintendent Mr. Richardson (introduced from the dais) acknowledged the concerns but defended the changes as part of a longer-term plan to align the district with recent state education policy shifts. "We're moving into the 21st century to meet the needs of the students here," he said, arguing the district is transitioning to more competency- and outcomes-based approaches following guidance from the New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department. Richardson said some position changes stemmed from resignations and that the district has been planning this reorganization for several years.
When asked whether the restructuring was driven by budget pressures, Richardson said it was not solely fiscal and noted the district had reduced initial proposed budget cuts from a larger figure down toward smaller savings while attempting to avoid harmful class-size increases. On special-education staffing, he said the district would monitor the changes and include staff in summer planning, but did not provide immediate operational details in the meeting record.
The transcript shows no roll-call vote tied to the staffing discussion; the board did, however, take voice votes during the meeting to approve routine agenda items separately.
What happens next: speakers asked the board to pause and review the staffing plan and its classroom effects; district leaders said they will continue planning and communicate further as details are finalized.
