POUGHKEEPSIE -The five unions representing all of the employees in the Poughkeepsie City School District are joining forces in calling for the district to take immediate actions to strengthen school safety. The middle and high schools have seen a substantial increase in violence since returning in September.
Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers Association President Kimberley Popken said the unions feel there is “an immediate need to bring safety” to the middle school, high school, and across the district.
“People are feeling defeated. We are not just dealing with the violence. We are dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have staff shortages,” she said. “So, we are looking for immediate changes so that when staff and students come to school, they feel safe.”
The union presidents want to bring all stakeholders together to “immediately develop a plan and make sure it can be implemented, supported, and is sustainable,” said Popken.
Collectively, the unions are seeking better labor-management communications through bi-monthly meetings between union leadership and District Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser. The labor leaders are also demanding additional staff to curb the current violence and support students that are dealing with trauma.
In addition to the teacher’s association, the Poughkeepsie Public School Administrators Association, Civil Service Employees Association Local 867, Poughkeepsie Public School Paraprofessional Association, and Poughkeepsie Public School Office Personnel Association are demanding immediate changes within the district.
“Teaching and learning are most effective when they happen in a safe space,” administrators association President Dr. David Scott said. “We have to protect our school community — students, staff, and families alike. That starts with supporting students, so they do not turn to violence in the first place. We are here to work with district administration and parents to do exactly that.”
Dr. Rosser said the willingness of the unions “to have greater involvement will enable the entire community to galvanize its collective efforts to address the long-standing issues that our children have continually faced and in a concerted way address root causes with meaningful and whole-child solutions. This will also support the district’s efforts in staffing needed positions and help inform the activity of the Poughkeepsie City School district SAVE Committee.”
The superintendent said there is “a lot of work to be accomplished and I look forward to meeting with the union leaders.”
