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Parents raise crossing, staffing and sibling-assignment concerns in public comment
Summary
During public comment at the May 6 Hernando County School Board meeting, speakers urged action on crossing guards near Brecksville Elementary, questioned elimination of a specialized staff position, asked for sibling assignment exceptions and raised concerns about discipline follow-up and streaming quality.
Multiple members of the public used the May 6 public-comment period to press the Hernando County School Board on school safety, staffing and assignment policies.
Carla Johns urged the board to place deputies or crossing guards at Broad near Brecksville Elementary, saying drivers use the roadway at speeds she estimated at 45–50 mph and that children have difficulty crossing. Johns also asked the board to consider retaining or re-creating duties similar to those of Michelle Barnes, a specialist whose position ends June 1; Johns said Barnes’s role was funded from Title I funds and not ESSER and called her work ‘‘very unique,’’ urging the district to find alternative funding or a similar job classification so the specialist can continue serving students.
Glenda Seaman, a longtime former teacher who volunteers in district schools, described emotional and academic stress for two brothers whose family was split between schools after one child was not accepted at Challenger K‑8. Seaman asked whether policies could allow siblings to attend the same school, suggesting automatic acceptance for kindergarten siblings and prioritized placement for grades 1–8. Student representative Santiago Pinckney later noted the board discussed sibling-preference options at a workshop earlier in the day and said the board did not reach consensus to move the change forward.
Kimberly Mulrooney raised two concerns: she said the board’s streaming video feed to remote viewers is cutting out and asked staff to investigate; she also relayed teacher reports that some written student discipline referrals are not being followed up with consequences, and she requested an investigation into discipline processing and enforcement.
Board members acknowledged the comments and directed staff to look into the crossing/traffic concern near Brecksville Elementary; Mr. Pender (superintendent) and other board members referenced a workshop discussion on sibling preference and reported no board consensus to change policy. No formal board action was taken during public comment; speakers were told the board may follow up in subsequent meetings if staff or the superintendent determine action is warranted.
