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Parents raise safety and transparency concerns during public comment
Summary
At the March 25 meeting, a parent asked the board to fix bathroom stall locks at Oakland High and a community member urged the board to respond to public questions after alleging an intimidation incident following a prior meeting.
Two public commenters addressed the school board during the March 25 public participation period with concerns about student safety and district transparency.
Why it matters: Public comment items can highlight operational safety issues and community‑board relations that may require administrative follow up.
What speakers said
- Bathroom locks at Oakland High School: Missus McClinton, identifying herself as a parent and taxpayer, told the board that several girls’ bathrooms at Oakland High School “does not have stall doors with locks on them,” and described the condition as a “grave security issue” for her two daughters; she asked the district to work with the school principal to rectify the problem.
- Complaint about intimidation after a board meeting: John Black told the board he had asked questions at a prior meeting and had been promised written responses that he said have not arrived. He said he was approached in the parking lot after the prior meeting by a sitting commissioner who told him to “stop defaming” and warned him about a pending lawsuit the commissioner said the commissioner had against the district. Black said he was not given an explanation for the claim of defamation and told the board he will continue to ask questions and “will not be deterred by intimidation or threats.”
Board response and next steps
Board members did not provide an immediate response during public comment. The board’s general practice, announced before public comment, is to provide written follow‑up to public commenters at a later date; Mr. Black said he had not yet received the written responses he expected after his prior appearance.
Ending
District staff will be the appropriate avenue for follow‑up on the bathroom safety issue and for any formal complaints; the board’s public comment announcement reminded speakers that staff will respond later in writing.
