Parents press Albert Lea School Board over student behavior, safety at Lakeview

Multiple parents told the Albert Lea Public School District School Board during the meeting's open public forum that repeated, serious student behavioral incidents at Lakeview School are undermining classroom learning and raising safety concerns.

The parents said administrators have downplayed incidents, failed to notify families promptly and sometimes did not involve police. Lydia S., a parent, said she collected accounts from other families and organized an anonymous survey that drew 159 submissions and more than 40 direct messages. “Because these student examples were rejected as not valid, an additional anonymous survey was created in an effort to hear from a more widespread adult population,” Lydia S. told the board.

Parents described examples they said included repeated classroom “redecorating” by students (standing on desks,…