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Parents warn board over nurse coverage, substitute shortages and classroom supplies
Summary
Multiple parents told the Hackensack Board of Education they are worried about nurse coverage during lunch, shortages of substitute teachers, and inconsistent access to basic supplies such as white printing paper; the board said it will investigate and follow up.
Several parents raised student-safety and resourcing concerns during the public-comment period at the Hackensack Board of Education’s Feb. 11 special meeting.
A resident, Donna, told the board she believes there is no nurse in her child’s school at certain times and stressed that a nurse’s presence is critical for emergencies. She said substitute-teacher shortages have sometimes led to split classes and that students had been sent home without basic supplies such as white paper because of a district budget freeze she had been told about.
Amanda Green, who identified herself as a parent with two children at Nellie K. Parker, said both of her children have severe peanut allergies and described the risk if a crisis team could not reach a student in time. She offered to help recruit parent volunteers and to donate supplies, and urged the board to consider ways to ensure consistent coverage and protections for students with life‑threatening allergies.
Riza Mendoza, another parent at Nellie K. Parker, described her child’s frustration when a class lacked white paper and said a teacher declined parent donations; she asked whether the problem was a one-off or a broader distribution issue. The board’s staff representative said there is no district-wide freeze on supplies and that administrators will look into the apparent discrepancy.
Vice President (as identified in the meeting) raised liability questions about parents volunteering to supervise or cover classes and said the board will discuss the matter with the district’s law firm. Board leaders thanked the public for coming and said they will follow up; they also reminded families that preschool open enrollment begins Feb. 12.
The board did not adopt any immediate policy changes at the meeting. Several trustees acknowledged the concerns and said staff would provide follow-up information.
