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, throwing heavy objects), threats between students and episodes the speakers described as traumatic for younger children. One parent said her third-grade son was told, “I’m going to hunt you down and kill you,” and that 39 days had passed without a clear response. Abby Murray, speaking for a parent who received a threat, said administrators had not called police and initially told parents the student’s bag would be checked for one day; the principal later described the threat differently, Murray said.

Several parents said their children have experienced anxiety and weight loss after repeated incidents. Emma Havan, a former district teacher and Lakeview parent, said: “I’m so scared my teacher is going to get hurt every day.” Other parents said teachers are frequently moved to tears because the same disruptive students remain in class while peers lose instructional time.

Superintendent David Krenz told the board he has met with multiple parents in recent weeks, that changes have been made to some protocols and that the district will provide additional support at Lakeview beginning this week. “We continue to listen, we continue to address issues, and it's not falling on deaf ears,” Krenz said. He also said the district crisis team had recently met to support families and staff after a separate incident described as a community crisis.

Speakers at the forum said they would submit the anonymized survey results to the board after the meeting. Board members asked whether the collected submissions had been compiled, and Lydia S. said she intended to provide the materials to the district after the meeting.

The board did not take action during the public forum; several members later said they had been meeting with parents and staff and thanked speakers for raising the concerns. The superintendent and other board members said they will continue follow-up with families and staff and review the survey submissions that parents said they will submit.

Clarifying details provided to the board included the survey size (159 submissions, with more than 40 direct messages), at least one threat that parents said had not been addressed for 39 days, reports of student weight loss tied to school-related anxiety, and repeated descriptions of classroom evacuations or students leaving class while a disruptive child remained.

The district did not provide a written timeline of specific next steps at the meeting; parents requested transparency about immediate actions and future plans and said they expect prompt follow-up from administration.