OXFORD – Conflicting opinions about moving teachers between buildings sparked heated debate among board, faculty and community members at an Oxford school board meeting last night which dragged on for nearly five hours.

Shortly after the meeting’s 7 p.m. start, long-time eighth grade social studies teacher and Oxford Teacher’s Association President Jon Rogers addressed the board with his concerns. Just moments after students had left the building on the final day of school, he said, he had been informed that his teaching assignment would change for next year.

“I’ll be shared between the two buildings,” he explained, referring to the Middle and High Schools. According to Rogers, the new arrangement, which he said he believes is “retribution” for speaking out, will not be by choice.

“I love to teach eighth grade,” he said, explaining that while he is certified to teach the sophomore-level Global Studies classes he has been assigned, he has never taught it before. When he has questioned the decision, Rogers said, he has been given “glib and nebulous” answers, which did nothing to clarify or explain why the move was “best for students.”

“You’re not even considering continuity,” he said.

The move will affect not only Rogers, but seventh grade social studies teacher Michelle Barrows as well. Barrows said she has been told by administrators that she may need to pick up one section of eighth grade because of block scheduling at the high school. She also expressed concerns about students who would no longer be able to seek extra help from Rogers after school without going to the high school.

“I really ask that you reconsider,” pleaded Barrows, who said she was “flabbergasted” when she learned of the plan.

The district’s justification for the move was revealed later in the meeting, when the board accepted the resignation of high school social studies teacher Michael Chrystie. Chrystie, who had been told in February that his position might be one of those reduced to part-time in the superintendent’s “worst case scenario” budget, elected to leave the district despite the fact that his position had been kept in the final budget approved by voters in May.

“The recommendation I would have is to not fill the position, but to instead enter into a contract with BOCES for a half-time health position,” Superintendent Randall Squier said during his staffing update to the board. The half-time position, he explained, would be shared with the Afton Central School District and would be “aidable” through the state. Jessica Wheeler, the full-time health teacher whose position was abolished in next year’s budget, will fill the shared position.

According to Squier, he consulted the administrators in both buildings before making the recommendation, but neither High School Principal Christine Pierce nor Middle School Principal Kathleen Hansen expressly stated their support of the plan.