Lakewood teachers' union, LEA, claims student misbehavior, low morale affecting work

LAKEWOOD ― Teachers union leaders say that district morale and safety are among the lowest levels ever, claiming that staff are being attacked by students without penalties and are being unfairly reassigned at an alarming rate.

“Morale in the district is at an all-time low,” Kimberlee Shaw, president of the Lakewood Education Association (LEA) told the school board last week. “Some of our most tenured teachers are leaving, not because of the money, but because of their social emotional health. Not feeling respected, and not being valued as professionals.”

Shaw and LEA Vice-President Cliff Mann raised the concerns in a rare appearance before the board at its regular March 20 meeting.

“Behavioral concerns are now seen across all grade levels, even as early as pre-K,” Shaw added. “Students have been fighting and even our members have been attacked by students. There have been reports of items being thrown at staff members, spitting, kicking, punching, fighting, and the use of foul language, and students threatening teachers, often reported in real time, with minimal to zero consequence.”

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But, LEA leaders contend, when students are reprimanded for their actions, they receive little if any real punishment.

“Although we understand the district's policy is to not suspend students, the district must come up with a solution that teaches accountability,” said Cliff Mann, the LEA vice president. “Many of our students have adopted an attitude of impunity.”

Superintendent Laura Winters and District Spokesman Michael Inzelbuch, also board attorney, did not respond to requests for comment after the meeting.

The LEA membership is currently under a five-year contract that ends in 2026. It began with the lowest starting salary in 2021 at just over $53,771, offering annual raises of approximately $2,000 until 2026 when the lowest salary will be $62,300.

The LEA concerns followed a recent state review that found morale was low and that Lakewood schools suffer from “a culture of low expectations” and “high levels of distrust.”

“Staff reported not feeling respected and fear retaliation from the administration if they speak out in a critical way,” the report from former State Education Commissioner Kimberly Markus said, in part. “Instances of unresponsiveness or unclear communication from the district contribute to a perception of inadequate support.”

Winters revealed in October that the district had been losing teachers at a higher rate than in the past, although she blamed it on fiscal uncertainty based in part on the district’s reliance on state loans and underfunded state aid.

She said then that 12 teachers hired last summer for the current school year changed their minds and went elsewhere before school started because they feared a lack of job security in Lakewood.

“They were worrying about what will happen next year,” Winters said at the time. “They called and told me they got a job in another district and they wanted a district that is more stable and doesn’t have to take loans. I have had teachers cry that they love it here, but they want more stability with another district.”

Since 2019, more than 100 staffers have left the district each year. With about 500 on staff that means 20% are leaving annually, nearly triple the state average of 8%, according to a recent Department of Education report.

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Shaw and Mann claim the mistreatment of teachers, low morale, and student behavior are the real reason for such departures. Shaw also cited an increase in staff transfers and reassignments that create instability and fear.

“They are leaving because they are tired of being transferred. They are tired of not having a say, and they are tired of not being allowed to do what they feel is in the best interest of their students,” Shaw said at the meeting. “They are also leaving because they are experiencing burnout from the excessive amount of work which often seems to have little to no value to our students educational needs.

“Lakewood trains teachers with the most up to date trends and in turn expects them to act as robots. Teachers are handed scripts to be performed without improvisation, leaving no place for instructions. Are we teaching to the needs of the administrator and not of our students?”

Mann cited administrative decisions on curriculum changes that do not take teacher views into account and often provide little guidance in implementing such changes.

More: NJ Auditor: Lakewood schools deserve special 'state aid' to address finances

“The ever-changing curriculum is an example of decreased collaboration, especially when staff are expected to buy into curriculum, and curriculums that tend to change every one to three years,” Mann said. “The lack of communication and professional courtesy towards our staff experiences was made evident most recently when our educators were made aware of a grade level being moved to another elementary school after parents were informed, leaving us unable to answer the questions and concerns the staff may have had.

“We ask that the district's administration involve and collaborate with staff when changes are being proposed and ask for faculty input before these changes take place to make Lakewood schools a safe, healthy, and amicable learning environment.”

Winters and Inzelbuch offered no response to the testimony at the meeting, although Winters spoke when questioned by Board Member Moshe Raitzik.

“What could make it more palatable to them if they feel they have been slighted in the process?” Raitzik asked Winters.

“The LEA was asking to be told before anyone else, of the changes,” Winters responded. “They were notified.”

When Raitzik asked the LEA speakers if they were notified, Inzelbuch interrupted to say, “we are not having a dialogue.”

Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience who covers education and several local communities for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He is also the author of three books, including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media, and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Reach him at jstrupp@gannettnj.com and at 732-413-3840. Follow him on Twitter at @joestrupp

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Lakewood NJ teachers claim students misbehave without consequences