Valley View School District 365U's school board approved the dismissal of 110 reading and special education teacher's aides for the 2013-2014 school year. (Read our full story about Valley View cutting teacher's aides here.)
The district plans to hire back about half as many certified teachers trained in either area to take their place. The move will better address students' needs, officials said.
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You disagreed.
Many of our readers questioned having fewer people in the classroom to offer students support. Students need the extra attention they receive from teacher's aides, you said. From Maryann:
I used to volunteer in my daughter's kindergarten class. There were several children that I would see weekly and help one on one. I am in no way a certified reading or special ed teacher, HOWEVER the one on one that the children received did wonders for them. I saw so many of them master things, and was so very proud to be a part of that! These children are our future, and we are doing them a great disservice by not providing them with enough people top help each and every one of them succeed. So does that mean the certified teachers will have less time with each student? Does it mean the certified teachers will let some children fall behind, because they have such a huge workload? Very sad!
From Jenn:
I worked one on one with special needs students. And I can say that the school board doesn't come into the classroom to see all that the parapros do. So it doesn't matter that the kids need it. Hiring a certified reading specialist and special Ed teacher isn't gonna matter...they'll just be overloaded. "Quality over quantity..." I'd like to see one of them go and do all that a parapro does when they're short-staffed.
From Heather:
I am not a Paraprofessional, certified reading or special Ed teacher. However, I spent countless hours in my son's elementary classrooms working with students of all levels and saw the positive outcome of working one-on-one and in groups with students. This is a very bad decision!
Valley View officials said teachers with more instruction in these areas will be more effective. Ozan questioned experience in the classroom versus a certification.
The Board can't find any other place to cut back? Seriously. Let the Kids Suffer. I am sure the staff that is being let go has years of experience. That can't be replaced by a College degree. To some on the board it must look good on paper. This is just so wrong!!!
For some readers, the vote turned their attention to the upcoming election of four Valley View School District school board seats.
From Lori:
This is wrong on so many levels. Every child will suffer, not just those that need have special needs. It is next to impossible to meet all of the needs of all of the students in the classroom. Everyone needs to vote on April 9. Interesting that our Spring Break falls during the election. I am an educator with over 20 years of teaching experience, so I do know a little about the best practice in education. If you want change, you need to vote out the incumbents. The only incumbent worth staying is Liz Cambell. Vote out Ronnie and Chrystal. I know I am voting for Jaime Olson for school board member. The other options are to sell your house and move or send your children to a private school.
School board candidate Jaime Olson disagreed with the decision.
This is horrible! It is such a shame that neither the majority of the Board nor the Superintendent understand how beneficial para-professionals are to special education classrooms. I find it funny that the Superintendent stated that such arrangements have helped students in 33% of our schools but could not explain how. I was perplexed at the Superintendent's general inability to answer simple questions. Throughout the evening, he tended to talk in circles and cite fluff rather than address issues or answer the questions that were presented. Something needs to change. The voters deserve Board members that will ask tough questions to the Superintendent and demand follow through on answers. They deserve Board members who will vote "no" to this type of nonsense.
One mother said she hopes to move out of the district. From Amy:
My daughter is starting kindergarten next fall.... I'm pretty nervous. I really hope I can sell my house next year and move before she gets into first grade!"