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Teachers and union leaders urge transparency, warn against special-education staffing cuts
Summary
A Hall Elementary teacher and the Gresham-Barlow Education Association urged the board to reject any budget proposal that reduces special education staffing and asked for transparent decision-making, citing risks to students, legal obligations, and staff wellbeing.
Kathryn Unger, a fourth-grade teacher at Hall Elementary and the safety and discipline chair for the Gresham-Barlow Education Association, addressed the board during public comment to warn about potential special-education staffing cuts and to request transparency in budget decisions. "She asked for any budget cuts to be transparent, and for them to reject any budget proposal that makes cuts to special education staffing," Unger said.
Matt Wallace, reporting on behalf of the Gresham-Barlow Education Association, reiterated concerns raised by Unger and asked the board to consider the impact on special education staff and services as bargaining continues. Wallace noted the association wants to maintain supports that meet legal and moral obligations to students. The board did not take a formal vote on staffing levels during the meeting; community input and a district budget survey with more than 900 responses will inform next steps.
