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Parents, teachers and students urge board to keep SEL support staff
Summary
Dozens of speakers at the March 10 Monroe Public Schools board meeting urged the board not to cut social-emotional learning (SEL) positions and support staff, saying those services keep students safe, improve behavior and support academics.
Dozens of parents, students and district staff urged the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education on March 10 to preserve social-emotional learning positions and paraprofessional supports as the board considers budget reductions.
Lindsay (speaker 14) told the board her family relied on support staff when her son struggled with separation anxiety, and described classroom incidents: “These events and behaviors are likely to continue. And without support staff implementing these methods teachers' time and resources are going to continue to be pulled from educating to handle the behavior issues.” Dr. Casey Bross (speaker 17), a pediatric occupational therapist, argued from a provider and business perspective that the SEL program “helps keep kids in school” and that removing it would cost the district in lost enrollment, additional training and turnover.
Multiple other speakers recounted students who benefited from paraprofessionals, restorative-practice coordinators and counselors. Jim Davis (speaker 12), a track coach, noted staffing and facility limitations that affect extracurricular outreach. Student speakers described personal experiences where SEL staff intervened during harassment and crises; one senior said the SEL team at the high school “made me feel protected and cared for.”
Board members acknowledged the volume of public comment and said they would continue to deliberate. One board member stated the board will not make changes to SEL staffing until budget details are clearer in April. The superintendent clarified much SEL work is funded through targeted grants and that the general-fund portion under discussion is a smaller piece of the district’s overall SEL effort.
