Galt trustees approve letter urging judge to place violent predator outside Galt community

The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a letter to the Sacramento Superior Court asking that a person designated a sexually violent predator not be placed near several Galt schools.

The board approved the letter during the meeting after staff said the placement being considered is near Liberty, Marengo and Lake Canyon schools and close to McCaffrey Middle School. The hearing before Judge Kenneth Brody is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 31; members of the public were told that written comments must be filed by 5 p.m. Jan. 29 to be considered by the court.

Trustee Catherine Harper moved to approve the draft letter and Trustee Matthew Ward seconded. Trustee Casey Raboy and Trustee Annette Coonsie voted in favor; the motion passed 4-0. The board asked the letter to be edited to make the district’s request explicit that the individual be placed elsewhere, not in the Galt community.

District staff provided background material and a link to the district attorney’s site for board members and the public. Trustees who spoke during the discussion said the location under consideration would be within walking distance of multiple schools and that the board and community wished to express safety concerns to the court. Trustees also noted prior cases in which community letters influenced placement decisions.

The board directed staff to submit the signed letter with the requested edit before the filing deadline. No additional actions were taken at the meeting regarding the case.