Parents at a Laredo Independent School District community input session urged the board and search consultants to prioritize student safety, transparent incident reporting and improvements to school meals.

Several parents described poor-quality lunches and at least one reported a child who fell ill after eating school food. One parent asked that the next superintendent visit cafeterias without prior notice so the leader could “review and eat what the children eat,” arguing an unannounced visit would show what students actually receive rather than a cleaned-up presentation.

Parents also raised security concerns about morning drop-off lines and inconsistent entry checks. One parent described long, dispersed lines that allow vehicles to use parking-lot access points and said, “if someone crazy came in they could take the children,” urging the district to review arrival procedures and campus monitoring.

Speakers recounted incidents involving staff conduct and said they want stronger vetting and more transparent follow-up when concerns arise. One parent described an investigation in another district in which a teacher was moved rather than removed after complaints and said that background checks and clear communication with families are necessary. Parents asked that the district explain when and how it will notify families about weapons, assaults or other safety incidents instead of families learning about problems secondhand.

Other requests included more training for new teachers on parent communication and more flexible funding for parent-program coordinators so they can reach working parents. Parents linked many concerns back to the superintendent hire, saying the next leader should be accessible, responsive and able to set consistent districtwide practices on meals, safety and family engagement.

Provenance: topicintro: parent remarks about school meals and requests for unannounced visits (transcript block starting 00:18:09). topfinish: parent accounts of staff vetting concerns and request for transparency (transcript block starting 00:33:29).