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Parents and staff press Batavia USD 101 on Chromebook use, class sizes and interventionist cuts
Summary
Eleven public commenters urged the board to limit Chromebook/screen time, restrict YouTube access, and reconsider reductions to interventionist positions and class-size increases, saying those changes could harm students who need in‑person supports.
Eleven members of the Batavia community used the board’s public‑comment period on May 19 to press district leaders on student device use, rising class sizes and cuts to interventionist positions.
Megan Kuba, a parent of a third grader, said she and other parents do not know how much daily time students spend on Chromebooks and urged the district to adopt clearer limits and stronger filters, noting a parent petition with more than 500 signatures. "If we don't know how much time is being spent, how do we know if it's developmentally appropriate for their age?" she asked.
Multiple speakers raised related concerns. Kathleen Meeks, a parent and educator, asked the board to consider the cumulative impact of proposed programming changes on students with high needs, including EL services and kindergarten interventions. Several parents and staff urged the district to retain interventionists and avoid consolidating positions that would reduce tier‑three supports for struggling readers.
Bridget Johnson, an interventionist, described operational challenges if her position is reduced to halftime and assigned concurrently to EL testing windows: "That’s about 30 days of no tier three support," she said, warning of missed intervention time during testing windows.
Other speakers asked the district to remove or better restrict YouTube and video-like apps on student devices, requested pilot options for parental controls, and proposed grade‑level screen‑time guidelines. David Peebles and another speaker offered community support items, including a donated piano for the high school music program.
Administration responded in the meeting by noting the board values community input and that written comments can be submitted to the recording secretary; the board and district staff said they will continue committee-level discussions and report back. Board members suggested the topic be discussed further with teacher representatives at future meetings.
The public-comment portion concluded after 11 speakers and before the action-item portion of the agenda.
