Students Shouldn't Have Same Class, Teacher Two Years In A Row, 'Frustrated' Parents Say

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — A group of “frustrated” Springfield parents have come together to start a grassroots movement called “Limit Looping” after the Springfield School district refused to meet with them over concerns of looping.

Looping is a practice where a student repeats the next grade level with the same class and teacher as the year prior. The group feels looping can have benefits, but, at the same time, can hinder a child academically and also can cause hurtful consequences in cases of bullying — such as was the case with Emma Spektor and several other students.

Spektor was bullied throughout her entire third grade year and was looped into the same class for fourth grade, causing the bullying to continue. Spektor’s mother Irinia has pulled her out of school and is fighting to have her moved to another class.

• See Related: Springfield 4th Grader Won't Go To School Because Of Bullies, Mom's Plea For New Classroom Rejected

Springfield parent and former teacher Sylvia Gils Caggiano started "Limit Looping" in early October after her son had a “terrible year academically” in 2016-17.

During his fourth grade year, Caggiano felt that she didn’t see much progress in her son academically. She doesn’t lay all of the blame on the teacher, but did discuss the situation with Principal Michael Plias of Thelma L. Sandmeier School multiple times throughout the year.

“I felt that the teacher was only parent pleasing me. He was getting good grades but his work was, in my opinion, below level. His work just didn’t justify those grades,” Caggiano said.

At the end of the school year, Caggiano said the teacher polled the entire class to see if they would want to follow them to the next grade. Then when a student said no, they were questioned as to why.

Several other parents reported the same thing, according to Caggiano, who believes that was a “huge lapse of judgement.”

Additionally, Spektor’s mom and several other parents who also reported their students were experiencing bullying during the 2016-17 school year began to come forward. One student even moved out of Springfield as a result.

The parents reached out to the school asking the district not to loop. Despite their concerns, parents received a letter right before Labor Day stating looping was in place.

A total of 14 parents got together and asked Superintendent Michael Davino multiple times for a sit down meeting, which he denied.

The group reached out to the Board of Education, who referred the situation back to Davino, Caggiano said.

Caggiano and other parents even approached the board at a few meetings and did not get anywhere, she said.

“That’s when I started the Limit Looping website to get parents in the class to communicate and to inform the whole district,” Caggiano said. “My son was been looped two consecutive times. First time was optional to opt out and the second there was no option.”

Limit Looping’s goal is to create a consistent policy in Springfield schools as to when a student should repeat a grade level with the same class and teacher. Caggiano is hoping the school will eliminate looping or at least allow parents the option to opt out.

“Perhaps if Mr. Davino had agreed to the meeting, the situation with Emma could have been avoided,” Caggiano said. “Surely it would have if Springfield had a parental opt out policy on looping placements available to the Specters and other parents.”

A petition has been created as well that is gathering signatures to be eventually presented to the board. To sign the petition CLICK HERE.

Parents in the township are also rallying together to attend the next Board of Education meeting on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. to confront the board.

For more information on Limit Looping visit www.limitlooping.com or Facebook.

(Screenshot via Springfield Board of Education meeting on Oct. 2 where Sylvia Gils Caggiano addresses the board regarding looping.)

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