Parents, teachers urge Waterloo Local board to address leadership turnover

Luzette Barton and other parents told the Waterloo Local Board of Education on Monday that a strong community turnout reflects broad concern about the district’s future and urged the board to use the superintendent and treasurer searches to boost transparency and public involvement.

"There are a lot of people here tonight, and we are all here because we care about Waterloo," Barton said, calling for open forums and clearer information-sharing so families can "show up and ask questions." Angela Bennett told the board the district has a "troubling pattern of leadership turnover" that disrupts students, teachers and long-term improvement efforts; she criticized the recent superintendent hire for not interviewing internal candidates and questioned selecting a near-retirement external candidate who resigned within a year.

Representing the Waterloo Education Association, Kyle read a prepared statement thanking the board for meaningful dialogue and urging a collaborative relationship with the next superintendent. "We're hopeful that the discussions on teacher discipline procedures and having weekly or biweekly meetings are going to be productive for everybody," Kyle said.

Board members did not take formal action on public comment but will continue the superintendent search and other personnel work during an announced executive session. Speakers said their goal was constructive involvement: urging fact-based organizing, participation in school events and consideration of internal candidates in future hiring processes.

The board will continue personnel deliberations in executive session and is expected to return to public business after that meeting.