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Teacher representing GBEA tells board staff are overwhelmed and urges prioritizing students
Summary
A Gresham-Barlow Education Association teacher told the board staff are experiencing high levels of disruption and burnout, warned that historic cuts will reduce supports and urged the board to prioritize students' basic needs.
Matt Wallace, representing the Gresham-Barlow Education Association, told the board many teachers and classified staff are struggling emotionally and that disruptions in classrooms are increasing stress and burnout.
Wallace said this school year is unlike others in his 12 years of teaching and described repeated severe disruptions and mounting caseload and class-size pressures. He urged the board, when budget cuts occur, to "put students’ basic needs first," warning the loss of supports would further harm learning environments. He also recognized classified staff and asked the board to reserve time for a moment of silence for union members who participated in a recent protest in Portland.
Wallace's remarks were the district's formal association report and were followed by the note that no OSEA Chapter 8 representative was present.
