Educator, parents urge board to restore Alt Ed aide after program cut

Inez Bradford, an educator at Silverton High School, told the board the alternative education program serves students with trauma, homelessness and severe disengagement and that last year she worked with nearly 70 students developing individual plans.

"Restoring the aid position is crucial for ensuring a safe and supportive environment for these students," Bradford said, describing days when she was pulled out of class to accompany students to urgent meetings and sometimes stayed out of the classroom for 45 minutes to support a student in crisis. Bradford said some students present active suicidal ideation and that, with the aid position cut for 2024–25, she often must manage a caseload nearly double that of other case managers.

Brianna Baker, a parent and former instructional aide, said the Alt Ed room provided wraparound supports ranging from food and clothing to one-on-one instruction and that without a second adult students and staff are put at risk. "Without another adult in the room, students and Inez wouldn't have received the support they deserve," Baker said.

Ammon Sabo, a district substitute who spoke in support, invited board members to spend time in the Alt Ed classroom to understand daily operations and said staffing gaps create safety and liability concerns for students and staff.

Board members asked operational questions about daily periods, caseloads and whether Sequoia placements were available; staff and commenters explained that referral capacity and parent reluctance limit Sequoia as an immediate option and that many Alt Ed students do not qualify for special education under narrow criteria. The remarks concluded with a request that the district prioritize restoring an aide or find interim supports while the board and administration work through budget constraints.