PEORIA, Ill. — A music teacher from one Peoria elementary school continues to make complaints about safety at her school, hoping to raise awareness.
Caitlin Hale of Maude A. Sanders Primary School spoke before the Peoria Schools Board of Education on Monday, insisting there are not enough adult administrators and staff at her school to handle the number of high needs children there.
Hale says the ratio of children with significant behavioral needs is too high, saying there are 7 to 8 of those students per qualified adult.
“That is insane and that’s not just for fourth grade, it’s for kindergarten, first and second (grade) too,” she said.
School security has been a sticking point as bargaining talks have continued between the Peoria Federation of Teachers local 780 and PPS 150 managers.
“We have a kindergartner who had a one-on-one, who then quit partially because they were being assaulted by the kindergartner. I’ve seen marks on teachers arms from being scratched by the student and just on Friday a student bit their teacher twice.”
During the meeting, Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat responded by advising that teachers stay the course.
Board member Paris McConnell compared the situation to a pregnancy saying — it can be hard.
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