ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown School District teachers are “exhausted and overwhelmed” just a month into the school year, according to their union leadership.
Allentown Education Association President Leslie Franklin said that’s because of staffing shortages, administrator turnover and “ever-changing expectations.”
During her public comments at Thursday’s Allentown School Board meeting, Franklin once again rang the alarm about the working conditions ASD teachers face.
“I spoke about these things at the beginning of last school year, and we’re in the same spot that we were in at that time."Leslie Franklin, AEA President
She said special education teachers are getting minimal support in classrooms that serve students with the highest needs.
Without citing a specific school, Franklin also said displaced students and staff are experiencing “major disruptions to learning.”
Teachers also are lacking access to classroom supplies and technology, she said. Additionally, schools are experiencing “ongoing shortages” of bathroom supplies, she said.
“I spoke about these things at the beginning of last school year, and we’re in the same spot that we were in at that time,” Franklin said.
“Focus on what needs to be done so we can get better together,” she told the school board and district administration.
District responds, says staffing is strong
Herman James, ASD’s chief of talent management and labor relations, told LehighValleyNews.com after Thursday’s meeting that he plans to speak with Franklin to learn more about the specific concerns, rather than the “general” list Franklin shared.
“Right now, all we know is what she stated in the meeting,” James said. “It was just a quick … itemization of concerns.
“I heard school supplies, I heard staffing, I heard all kinds of things."Herman James, ASD’s chief of talent management and labor relations
“I heard school supplies, I heard staffing, I heard all kinds of things,” he said.
James said he wants to know to what Franklin is referring with her claims of a staffing shortage.
“Not that we have all positions filled, we still have a few vacancies," he said. "But certainly in those vacancies we have substitutes who are covering those vacancies."
James said 98% of classroom teacher positions are filled across the district. He said ASD welcomed 44 new teachers and 36 paraprofessionals with the approval of Thursday’s personnel report.
According to ASD’s job listings, there are 94 teacher vacancies listed across the district’s 24 elementary, middle and high schools.
The job board shows the listings were last updated as of Thursday night.
