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Parents and advocates urge greater transparency, equity and cameras in special-needs classrooms
Summary
Speakers at the Clayton County Board of Education public participation period raised concerns about family engagement and equity at Unidos, asked for cameras in special-needs classrooms, and described coordination problems with senior volunteer donations.
During public participation at the Sept. 3 Clayton County Board of Education meeting, three community speakers urged the board to address family engagement concerns, recommended mandatory classroom cameras in special-needs rooms for parental access, and raised coordination issues around donated school supplies.
Maria Marino, a parent at Unidos, told the board that parents at her school felt ignored and that district processes were not being followed. “Parents who stand up for their children are too often treated as a problem instead of partners,” Marino said, asking the board to “take immediate action to restore fairness, ensure proper communication, and give parents the respect and voice they deserve.” She said Unidos serves a majority-immigrant community and argued that some events and parent-student lunches had been curtailed this year, which she described as inconsistent with family engagement expectations and Title I obligations.
Christina McCullough, founder of Shine, a nonprofit supporting children with autism, asked the board to require cameras in all special-needs classrooms with parental access to view and save footage. “Cameras are not about mistrust. They are about safety, accountability, and a peace of mind,” McCullough said. She urged the district to prioritize transparency and safety and to give families full access to recordings when needed.
Linda Jones, president of the Progressive Seniors Organization, described efforts by a small group of senior volunteers who donate school supplies each year and said coordination problems led to disappointment this season. Jones said the group donated roughly $1,000 in supplies to second-grade students at Lily East Pseudo Elementary School in Jonesboro and asked the district to improve communication so community volunteers receive agreed-upon support when they arrive.
Board Chair Ben Stryker read the public-participation rules at the start of the period and noted that issues arising during public comment can be added to future agendas or forwarded to administration for follow-up.
The speakers cited board policy BCBI (public participation guidelines) and referenced Title I survey processes; the transcript shows requests for improved adherence to the family engagement plan and for clearer communication between schools and community volunteers.
