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Superintendent says security prevented intruder from entering campus; parents ask for faster follow-up
Summary
A parent raised concerns about delayed district notification after an intruder was encountered near a campus; Superintendent Hazleton said the person did not gain entry, praised security and police response, and explained the district delayed messaging until details were confirmed.
A parent at the Englewood Board of Education’s Oct. 9 special meeting asked why district notification about a recent security incident came several hours after police were called. The superintendent said the district waited until school officials had verified the facts before sending a message.
Why it matters: Timely and clear emergency communications are a frequent priority for parents; the board heard requests for clearer and faster follow-up after safety incidents.
During public comment, Victor Santana said a person had been denied entry at a school door and that parents received the district message “around 12:43” despite the incident beginning earlier in the day. Superintendent Dr. Hazleton replied that the individual did not gain entrance to the building and praised security staff and the Englewood Police Department for a quick response; she said district security protocols are designed to “protect you from the outside in” and that administrators waited to confirm details before sending community communication. She reminded the public that certain operational details cannot be disclosed in public if doing so would spread misinformation or compromise investigations.
The superintendent said the message was drafted and released after administrators had verified the sequence of events with the head of security and the police. Board members acknowledged the concern and said they want the district to review whether communication timing and content can be improved without compromising safety or ongoing investigations.
No formal action was taken at the Oct. 9 meeting; the superintendent and security staff indicated they would follow up with parents who raised individual concerns.
