Schools
Hudson Board of Education Listens to Community Concerns on Recent School Closure
The Hudson Board of Education heard public comments on the district's decisions to cancel school on Feb. 18. The district closed the school following an unusual number of employee absences.
The Hudson School District Board of Education heard citizens address their concerns on the district-wide closure that took place Feb. 18.
The Hudson School District was forced to close as a result of a unusually high number of teacher absences.
Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten briefly addressed the large crowd on the factors that went into the district deciding to close school on Feb. 18.
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Bowen-Eggebraaten noted that 133 employee absences were entered into the district's system by 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 17, 102 of those were teachers.
Bowen-Eggebraaten stated that "the district averages 59 staff absences per day." She also noted that students at Hudson High School were planning a walk-out on Feb. 18 to show their support for the district's teachers.
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The district was worried about managing the student demonstration, without teachers who knew the students.
Citizens reactions were mixed, as some spoke out in support of the teachers decisions, while others called for action to be taken against those absent teachers.
Hudson resident Roy Sjoberg expressed his "debt and gratitude to the fine teachers" of Hudson and that he supported those "who found it necessary to do an extreme measure."
Local resident Peggy Audley expressed her feelings to the board, in that "having a discussion around how to discipline the teachers who exercised the right to be heard in Madison on Feb. 18 disturbs me. Our teachers represent the voice of democracy."
Local teacher union president Scott Ellingson personally apologized "to the community, for the terrible inconvenience they experienced on Feb. 18."
Louis Adormato of North Hudson felt that the teachers' decisions were completely out of line. Adormato questioned whether it was "an illegal strike action," adding that "if it was, the teachers took action against the taxpayers, using our children as weapons against us."
Adormato also made it quite clear that none of his children had attended public school, as his family "didn't want to expose them to the union teachers."
Common Council Alderperson Lori Bernard stated that she supports some action being taken against the teacher. She also commented that "I've talked to many parents who were afraid to come tonight, because they don't want to speak out, because of fear of repercussions against the students. And from the snickering I've heard in the back, I understand that, and I can see why they are intimidated."
Hudson resident Greg Sarno expressed similar feelings about the school closures on Feb. 18.
Sarno stated that "those teachers that illegally called in sick on Feb. 18 should be docked a day's pay, be fined an additional day's pay," and also requested "that a letter of reprimand be placed in all those teachers' files."
Even some Hudson High School students weighed in.
Hudson High School junior Marc Hayes stated that "in our schools we've always been taught to stand up for what we believe in, and having the idea to punish teachers for doing that very thing is going against everything that teachers and our society has taught us. Doing so would be wrong to our teachers, and almost wrong to our students."
However, senior Benjamin Peters, did not share the same sentiments.
Peters stated that "I find that the actions taken on the 18th were inexcusable," adding that the use of a sick day "to deprive us of a day of education" was not acceptable.
Peters also noted that "some students who are in awe, and respect the teachers for the action they took, others are of complete disgust. There is utter separation in our school at the moment, whether it is between the students or the teachers."
Board members also seemed to support some disciplinary action being taken against teachers for their actions.
Board of Education member Mark Kaisersatt stated that some disciplinary action was needed, "obviously we've got to have something between a slap on the wrist and a public flogging."
Other Board News:
- The board unanimously approved 23 of 33 applications for open enrollment into the Hudson School District.
- The board unanimously approved all 38 applications for open enrollment to leave the Hudson School District.
- A report on Advance Placement (AP) results for the district was given. the Hudson School district has done well with AP exams, as the district exceeded the statewide statistics in the percentage of students scoring over 3 on their AP exams in every subject.
- The board approved the payment of bills in the amount of $1,798,272.22.
