We, the undersigned parents, educators, and community members, are deeply concerned about the reduction in para support in the kindergarten and first-grade classrooms at Eisenhower Elementary in the Hopkins School District.

Last year, each kindergarten classroom had a dedicated para, and the first-grade Juntos classrooms shared a para. However, this year, the para support has been drastically reduced. Kinder no longer has full time para support throughout the day and 1st grade is receiving far less support than previous years. This reduction is affecting both the teachers' ability to provide individualized instruction and the students' ability to receive the attention and support they need throughout primary grades.  

The lack of para support is leading to larger challenges in classroom management, diminished one-on-one instructional time, and ultimately impacting the learning environment for our young learners. While we understand the need for the district to make difficult decisions, it is clear that this particular change is having a negative impact on our students and teachers.

We respectfully request the Hopkins School District to:

1. Reinstate full para support in all kindergarten classrooms.

2. Increase para support in the first-grade classrooms to ensure more consistent assistance for teachers and students.

3. Explore sustainable solutions for providing long-term para support to meet the growing needs of the student population.

Our children’s success is at stake, and we believe that with the right support, they can continue to thrive in their education. We urge the school board and district leadership to act swiftly in addressing this issue.

Please sign this petition to show your support for restoring full para assistance in our classrooms.