Teachers' union warns of 11 vacant special‑education positions and workplace safety issues

Kristen Joy, vice president of special education for the Utica Teachers Association, told the board the union has filed a state special‑education complaint and asked the district to prioritize filling vacant positions and reviewing disciplinary protocols.

"We are currently facing a minimum of 11 vacant special education teaching positions in our secondary schools," Joy said, adding that remaining staff are being asked to cover extra classes and that many teachers are responsible for writing as many as 25 individualized education plans apiece.

Joy urged the board to conduct a transparent review of disciplinary protocols and restore full staffing in classrooms, saying paraeducators and teachers are nearing burnout. "When a system is understaffed to this degree, the foundational support our students deserve begins to deteriorate," she said.

Union representatives also described instances of physical and verbal aggression toward educators and asked for immediate administrative interventions. The UTA workplace climate survey is open, Joy said, and results will be shared with the superintendent and the board for committee review.

Christina Sutter, TA chair for SEIU, echoed staffing concerns and urged continued collaboration between union leadership and administration.

The board did not adopt an immediate staffing remedy at the meeting; administrators acknowledged the staffing gaps and said they are pursuing building-level supports and other measures, and that the budget under discussion does not cut positions.