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SWEA leaders tell Swedesboro-Woolwich board morale is low as staff depart
Summary
SWEA president and vice president used public comment to tell the board they are losing staff and raised questions about replacements and mandatory trainings; the vice president announced she is leaving the district.
At the Nov. 20 Swedesboro-Woolwich board meeting, two union leaders used the public-comment period to warn the board about staff morale and to announce departures.
Eileen Healey, president of the Swedesboro-Woolwich Education Association, said the union is "concerned about the morale" of staff and that the district is "losing exceptional personnel." Healey asked which positions will be replaced, whether the Innovative Schools Summit training is mandatory and if a virtual option exists, and she invited board members to be more present in schools.
Chris Zingo, identified in the minutes as SWEA vice president, delivered a farewell in which she outlined her career in the district, said she is leaving to pursue growth opportunities and said her departure was prompted in part by changes within the district. Zingo also said she was concerned about the departure of Dr. Jennifer Garcia-Griffin, which she flagged for the board during her remarks.
Board President Gina Azzari acknowledged receipt of an email inviting board members into buildings. Superintendent Dr. Kristin Kellogg later confirmed that the Innovative Schools Summit has no virtual option for the sessions referenced.
The matters raised during public comment were recorded in the board minutes; some personnel changes referenced by the speakers also appear in the board’s personnel report approved later in the meeting. The board did not take immediate public-action responses to the union remarks beyond noting the comments and handling the personnel slate in its business agenda.
