APEA Charges District with Failing to Follow Legal Requirements for Hiring Licensed Staff
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The Amherst Pelham Education Association (APEA) Executive Board has raised deep concerns about the long-standing issue of the Amherst Regional Public School District hiring and retaining several school personnel without proper state licensure. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires educators such as building principals, counselors, and teachers to have professional licenses, or if not, the district must apply for a waiver for an emergency licence for one year.
The APEA upholds the importance of training, certification, and licensure for staff working with children so that the children receive the benefit of the highest professional expertise. Moreover, the district must abide by state law and ensure that all staff who must be licensed actually are, and correct any hiring practices that have overlooked this key element of their process.
For more information, please contact Claire Cocco, APEA Communications Chair at coccoc73@gmail.com.