San Ysidro board hears hours of public opposition and law-enforcement endorsements for new 'safe campus' controlled-access rules

San Ysidro School District trustees, parents, teachers and law-enforcement officials spent hours on Aug. 14 debating a new controlled-access "safe campus" policy that limits parents' ability to walk students to class during drop-off, with trustees and district staff defending the change as a safety measure and many parents and advocates calling it exclusionary and harmful to families of students with disabilities.

The board’s discussion followed nearly three hours of public comment from parents and community members at Willow Elementary School. Several speakers said the district’s implementation caused confusion and distress. “This drastic change has caused great concern, frustration, anxiety, suffering, and confusion for both parents and students,” said a parent during public comment, citing impacts for English learners and students with disabilities. Marisa LaFranco, who identified herself as the aunt of a special-education student, added parents must be able to “provide immediate assistance” for…