Standing in solidarity

Teachers express concerns for their own safety

By KATELYN CORDERO
Posted 3/8/19

The Newburgh Teachers Association (NTA) took to the microphone at the last Board of Education meeting to express their concerns with safety in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. On February …

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Standing in solidarity

Teachers express concerns for their own safety

Posted

The Newburgh Teachers Association (NTA) took to the microphone at the last Board of Education meeting to express their concerns with safety in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

On February 21, teachers walked into Newburgh Free Academy, Main Campus to stand together in solidarity. The walk in did not disrupt the schools in any way assured Stacy Moran, President of the NTA.

“When we walked in it was in solidarity,” said Moran. “We didn’t disrupt schools as a sign of unity and solidarity because we really feel like we aren’t having enough conversations around school safety and we just wanted to make that a point.”


Some of the concerns included broken scanners in two high school cafeterias, the lack of protocol to alert teachers to emergency situations within their buildings, and the need for more security guards.

The walk-in comes after a teacher was assaulted by a student at Newburgh Free Academy campus on February 8 in the cafeteria.

“I am speaking tonight because there appear to be gaps in communication within the chain of command,” said Moran at the meeting. “I want to ensure the voices of the members of the NTA are heard despite the gaps.”


Moran feels the infrastructure in the school needs to be addressed. she is looking to have a conversation going forward to create a more safe and welcoming learning environment for students.

“I want to make sure people understand that our working environment is literally the learning environment of the children. We can make them as welcoming and productive and safe as possible,” said Moran. “It affects the children and it affects the members and it affects everybody. So we listen to the concerns of the parents, students and everybody and we relay them as best we can to make sure that everyone is safe, happy and learning.”