Parents press Woodland Park board about preschool aide and request bus-stop change

Several parents raised concerns during public comment at the Woodland Park Board of Education’s Feb. 9 meeting about the reassignment of a preschool classroom aide and the effect on one child.

Jasmine Asalde of 599 McBride Ave. said she removed her preschool son from school and requested a meeting to discuss re-enrollment with a 1-to-1 aide and therapy. Other parents — Janella Almonte, Tara Wanga and Valente Mira — told the board they had observed behavioral changes or outbursts in the same child after the aide left the classroom and urged the board to restore the aide.

Resident Nicole Zlotkowski asked whether the general-education bus could stop in front of her house rather than requiring her child to walk to the established bus stop. Superintendent Michele Pillari responded that the board could not discuss individual student matters in public and said the administration would follow up privately; she explained that district bus stops are established to serve communal needs and that hazardous-route courtesy busing follows established stop locations.

The minutes record that the board moved later into executive session where the preschool student referenced in public comment was discussed alongside other confidential items. The minutes do not record any public decision to reinstate a specific aide or alter busing policy; parents asked for a meeting and the superintendent said she would contact the family to discuss next steps.

The board’s executive-session minutes later list HIB investigations and other confidential agenda matters; the preschool-aide concern was counted among topics discussed in closed session, but no public resolution or timeline for action is provided in the open minutes.