After learning that Veterans Park Elementary School teacher Mary Tracey may be transferred to Branchville Elementary School, a group of concerned parents are petitioning Assistant Superintendent of Special Services Dr. Kim Hapken and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Baldwin to keep the longtime special education teacher at Veterans Park Elementary School.
To date, the Change.org petition titled Keep Mary Tracey at Veterans Park has 228 signatures.
Not only are the parents imploring Dr. Hapken and Dr. Baldwin to allow Tracey to stay due to her stellar performance and educational impact, but they say that her leaving would be a breach of her contract, “It appears to be a breach of the district’s contract with the NEA which states: Article X – Section 10.02: Prior to effectuating the involuntary transfer of a Teacher, the Superintendent shall offer to consult with the Teacher to elicit his or her views regarding the transfer.” The petitioners say this did not occur.
The petition reads, “Mary goes above and beyond to ensure every student, special education or not, feels important. She also serves as a role model to many of the teachers.”