“Looking around this room tonight you will see staff members from all 10 buildings in the district who are here not because of the actions of one administrator or concerns in one building, they are here because no matter which building in the district we work in we deserve to work in a safe environment where we are respected not only by the students but the administration,” said Stephanie Sardi, Jamestown Teachers Association president.

At the same meeting, Dr. Bret Apthorpe, JPS superintendent, gave an update on improved culture, safety, public discourse and student achievement at the high school.

The school district was criticized by members of the public during the open session portion of the meeting that was heavily attended inside the Jefferson Middle School auditorium. Of the dozens of people who spoke, many called for the re-establishment of night school, the elimination of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and often people voiced criticism of high school principal Dr. Rosemary Bradley.

Overall, community members who spoke focused on accountability among misbehaving students and errors made by district administrators.

The Jamestown Public Schools Board. P-J file photo

The vocal meeting comes after unions at the high school held votes of “no confidence” for Bradley Nov. 14. The votes were held a week after a Nov. 6 fight among students led to an emergency lockdown procedure and the Jamestown Police Department responding to JHS. The lockdown event and following procedures were heavily criticized by members of the community at a Parent Teacher Student Association meeting the same week of the union votes.

With some members absent, 86% of JTA members employed at the high school supported a vote of no confidence for Bradley. The vote, totaling 90 participating members, saw 77 in favor and 13 against.

Sardi addressed the board, the district and community members in an effort to again explain the position of JTA.

“While this may have seemed like a drastic step by some, the decision was definitely not taken lightly,” Sardi said. “The staff at JHS and the JTA executive board believed it was the only way to get the Board of Education and the central administration to listen to the concerns and begin making visible changes sooner rather than later.”

The district responded to the Nov. 6 incident with a statement to clarify school efforts. District officials listed numerous immediate changes that would be implemented at the high school in its response.

During Apthorpe’s presentation, he followed up on several of the promises made last month. Recently, the district identified 45 JHS students with high absentee and discipline rates for placement in a personalized learning program at the school district’s Tech Academy. Other improvements also included providing JPD officers with keys and access cards to JHS; partnering with Chautauqua County Health Homes to provide additional support for mental health illness, emotional problems, and/or behavioral problems; offering multiple deescalation training sessions to staff; improving emergency drills, logs and debriefs; moving the middle school resource officer to JHS when the current SRO is absent; and adding nine radios to the JHS communications system.

Apthorpe’s presentation included more improvements and shared that he would report back to the Board at a March 10 meeting. Then, he will share with board members updates on staff, student, and public opinion on the status of building; assessment of discipline referral rates; and evaluations of safety drill logs and notes.

Board President Paul Abbott addressed the crowd comprised of teachers, parents, students and community members, following public comment.

“One of the speakers tonight mentioned holding us accountable,” Abbott said. “I will absolutely hold us accountable for rapid changes as well as long-term changes. A colleague recently said to me, ‘the certainty of consequences is more important than the consequence itself.'”