Parents of McNair Elementary students urged the Petaluma City Schools board to prioritize perimeter security for McNair, saying the campus remains open on multiple sides and poses recurring safety and supervision challenges.
Jocelyn Martin, who said she serves on the McNair Site Council, told trustees the campus is the only elementary site in the district without controlled access and described multiple incidents this school year in which strangers walked onto campus. "We are simply asking for McNair to be brought up to the same baseline level of safety and equity that all of the elementaries already have," Martin said.
Scott Fishman, another McNair parent, echoed Martin’s appeal and described the campus as "uniquely and remarkably open," with classrooms and playgrounds within steps of public streets. He said even casual events raise the risk that a small child could leave campus unnoticed and argued common-sense fencing could reduce liability and improve student protection.
Board members acknowledged the comments and staff noted the bond implementation discussion later in the evening will explore project sequencing; they encouraged speakers to remain and provide input for the implementation conversation or submit follow-up comments to district staff.