Teacher and paraeducator press board on campus supervision, classification and TK iPad rollout

Two public speakers raised safety and implementation concerns during the public‑comment portion of the Westminster School District board meeting on Jan. 22.

Mary Ellen Eastman, a teacher at Clegg Elementary, asked the board to confirm in writing that classified staffing assignments at her site comply with district policy and safety expectations. She described continued role‑misalignment involving noontime supervisors assigned extended hours or front‑office duties and said that after a 2024 student checkout incident the district installed a buzzer system that is only effective when monitored by properly classified staff. “Because clarity on this issue has not yet been provided in writing, I’m here tonight requesting confirmation that classified staffing assignments, schedules, and access at my site are fully aligned with district policy and safety expectations,” Eastman said.

Stacy Barajas, a paraeducator in the district’s TK program, urged trustees to reconsider the decision to send iPads home with TK students. Barajas said paraeducators were not included in rollout communication or training, and she documented digital‑safety issues observed when staff checked device histories: students viewing unrelated YouTube content and “one student had over 700 photos on their iPad.” She also raised developmental and logistical concerns — young children need hands‑on experiences and may not self‑monitor device use; devices and chargers lacked clear labeling and increased backpack weight for 4‑ and 5‑year‑olds.

Trustees did not take immediate formal action during the public‑comment period; Superintendent Hansen and staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would follow up. The meeting record shows staff will review classification questions and advised the board that a working out‑of‑class process exists for longer‑term substitutions, while the PIO interim would coordinate communications on technology rollouts.

The comments put a spotlight on two operational questions: whether classified assignments and scheduling at school sites match the policy expectations tied to campus safety systems, and whether current safeguards, labeling, training and monitoring around devices issued to TK students are sufficient.