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Teachers and union warn board students and staff are at risk after TK–8 transition
Summary
Teachers, union leaders and public commenters told the Auburn Union Elementary School District board that overcrowding, frequent fights and staff shortages at Auburn Union Elementary are creating unsafe conditions and driving experienced staff to leave.
Public commenters and classroom teachers told the board the district’s transition to a TK–8 configuration has left some campuses understaffed and students in frequent conflict.
"Students are learning to not learn," a staff member said during public comment, describing daily pushing, shoving and fighting at Auburn Union Elementary and reporting that a special‑education teacher left the day before. AUTA president Sarah Liebert told the board that staff training in ALICE and other safety protocols is incomplete at many sites and that classrooms are experiencing repeated disruptive behavior, including students "yelling at staff, flipping over desks, punching students and staff." The board acknowledged those concerns and discussed incident reporting and additional adult supervision.
The superintendent said the district is scheduling targeted training, including a half‑day of behavioral threat assessment management (BTAM) and a district‑wide ALICE rollout in the spring, and that local law enforcement has been engaged when threats are reported. President Holt urged staff to document incidents so administration and the district can take action. Clerk Grigsby and other trustees encouraged increased community volunteer support.
Why it matters: Trustees and multiple staff representatives described staffing shortages, cleaning gaps and incomplete facility improvements tied to the TK–8 change, and said those conditions affect safety and learning across multiple campuses.
What’s next: The superintendent outlined training dates and said more site‑level plans will be shared; trustees requested further updates on playground implementation and staffing supports.
