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Parent raises safety and transparency concerns about Shawnee Public Schools at city commission meeting
Summary
A parent told the commission the district investigated an in-school assault internally and resisted outside oversight, described increases in citations and alleged that a former employee was criminally charged; she said the State Board suspended the superintendent's teaching certificate and asked the city commission for help.
Shawnee — During the citizen participation portion of the Jan. 20 meeting, resident Cindy Barger addressed the City Commission with complaints about Shawnee Public Schools, alleging a lack of transparency in the districts handling of student safety and discipline.
Barger said she had come previously to ask who oversees the school resource officer (SRO) program and that when she questioned an SROs response to an assault, the district conducted an internal investigation and concluded no policy violation. "The school did the entire investigation and my daughter was prosecuted over it," Barger said. She told the commission she believed parental rights were violated and said she had submitted statistics showing increased citations for assault and drug possession at middle and high schools.
Barger also alleged complaints about a teacher or coach were ignored for years and said the State Board of Education had suspended the teaching certificate of Aaron Espault, whom she identified as the superintendent; she said he was placed on administrative leave in August. Barger asked the commission for assistance because she said the district had not responded to her pleas.
The commission did not take action on the comments; the remarks were delivered during public comment and recorded in the minutes. No staff or district representatives provided a response during the meeting.
