Parent and teacher raises concern about 18-day vacancy at Roper Elementary

At the board’s public-comment period, Jennifer Ferretti identified herself as a teacher and a parent of two students attending Roper Elementary and said one child lacked a regular teacher for 18 instructional days this fall.

Ferretti said initial communication about the vacancy was poor and that misinformation appeared in media coverage. After contacting her board representative she connected with district staff and learned more about supports in place. She praised Roper administrators — whom she named in her remarks — for stepping in when substitute coverage was not available and for personally walking students home after a nearby fatal accident to shield them from the scene.

Her comments combined concern about staffing and communications with gratitude for administrators’ efforts to support students during a difficult period. The board did not take any immediate action during public comment but acknowledged the remarks and thanked her for raising the issue; the speaker said she appreciated follow-up from her board representative.