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Parents urge board to investigate mass staff departures and safety concerns at Blue Ridge Elementary
Summary
Multiple parents told the Jefferson County Board of Education that a wave of teacher and staff departures at Blue Ridge Elementary left students and families unsettled, citing poor communication, special-education gaps and alleged safety lapses; one parent said roughly 12–19 staff left in the past year.
A group of parents told the Jefferson County Board of Education on Aug. 25 that a cluster of staffing changes at Blue Ridge Elementary has created instability and safety concerns for students.
"Over the last year, we have had increasing concerns with the direction of the school, treatment of students, and overall communication," said Colleen Stewart, speaking for a group of parents who surveyed staff and families; she said 64 percent of respondents described the school environment as negative. Sarah Brandenburg, a Blue Ridge parent and pediatric occupational therapist, listed roughly 15 specific staff members who left in a single year and asked the board to "do your own investigation." Laura Menzies, a nine-year Blue Ridge parent, said seven classroom teachers, four classroom aides, the school counselor, the school nurse and the academic coach left the school this past year.
Parents and volunteers raised several specific concerns: late notice to families when classes lacked teachers; an apparent increase in first-grade misconduct incidents referenced in prior presentations to the board; and a reported incident in which a staff member was allegedly intoxicated during a school day, which a speaker said was later addressed by the administration. Kayla Lehan noted that the school’s population includes a high share of students in poverty — a figure cited by speakers as 54 percent — which she said increases the need for stable special-education supports.
Speakers also said communication from school administration has been poor. "When a group of parents formed a private online forum on social media to discuss concerns, this information was given to administration at Blue Ridge, who then took it upon themselves to contact each individual parent through identifying them on social media," Britney Randall said, describing follow-up voice mails and calls that parents found defensive.
Board members who heard public comment acknowledged the concerns and asked staff for data and next steps. No formal board action was taken during public comment; later in the meeting a board member moved to place an item on a future agenda to consider looking into the situation at Blue Ridge (see separate article).
