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Blue Ridge community urges board to back principal as teachers cite departures
Summary
Multiple staff and community members spoke during public comment to praise Blue Ridge Elementary's new leadership, report large student gains, and request more substitute teachers and that the board review staff correspondence about departures.
Community members used the public-comment period at the Sept. 8 Jefferson County Board of Education meeting to urge the board to support Blue Ridge Elementary's principal and to address staffing gaps that speakers said have hurt morale.
"When it comes to making sure your child is getting the academic rigor, discipline, and confidence they need to be successful, she is the right leader for Blue Ridge," said Steven Creech, a special-education teacher at Blue Ridge Elementary. Creech described a student whose reading scores rose "over 40%" after school staff provided targeted support and credited the principal and academic coach with the school's gains.
Cheryl Levine, the school's music teacher of 28 years, told the board Blue Ridge has "awesome students and staff" and that test scores, attendance and discipline have improved; she also asked the board to look into removal of a playground structure. Kim, a longtime county teacher and part-time interventionist who said she has worked for Jefferson County Schools 45 years, told the board many veteran staff "left with good reason" and urged board members to read staff emails and letters to the central office to understand the causes.
Board members did not take action during the meeting on the personnel or climate concerns raised by the speakers. The consent agenda following public comment (personnel actions) was approved by voice vote without recorded opposition.
