Teachers and parents urge board to reconsider personnel moves tied to school closings and 5th-grade realignment

Several teachers and parents urged the Randolph County Board of Education to reconsider personnel recommendations tied to two school closures and a plan to move 5th grade to middle school, saying the changes threaten classroom stability for the district’s youngest students.

"I am Elizabeth Lowe ... I respectfully ask that you consider the impact of this decision, not just in terms of budget, but in terms of what students need to succeed," said Elizabeth Lowe, who identified herself as a kindergarten teacher at Colton Elementary and asked the board to weigh long-term effects on early literacy and student relationships.

Erica Roth, a kindergarten teacher at 3rd Ward Elementary, told the board that classroom stability can mitigate "toxic stress" for children in unstable households and asked members to consider alternatives to automatic personnel reductions. "Schools are traditionally thought of as the most stable part of a child's life," Roth said, presenting a packet of parent letters that described the teacher's community impact.

Kelsey Mahanes, a kindergarten teacher at Midland Elementary, cited assessment data to argue for retention: "By the middle of the year, 60 percent of my students were on or above grade level in reading and 50% in math," she said, and asked the board to reconsider a personnel decision that would remove her from the classroom.

Board members and administration described the procedural constraints that govern personnel actions. A staff member explained the process: closures and the 5th-grade realignment trigger transfers and vacancies that must be filled in seniority order, and the board must follow state personnel code. "The legislature made changes; we have to live with an archaic system," a member of administration said, adding most displaced teachers will have opportunities to apply for posted vacancies following the personnel season.

Speakers asked the board to explore alternatives that would preserve experienced early-grade teachers — including adjusting postings or revisiting the timing of realignment — while administrators said legal and contractual rules limit what the board can do at this stage. The board did not take any personnel votes tonight and pledged to research seniority and posting questions before acting.

The board recessed for a short break, scheduled follow-up research on seniority lists and legal classifications, and will consider those findings at a later meeting.