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Parents and advocates tell Clayton County board to restore parental engagement, equity and safety; nonprofit urges cameras in special‑needs classrooms
Summary
During public comment at the Sept. 3 Clayton County Board of Education meeting, a parent alleged exclusionary practices and violations of family‑engagement rules, a nonprofit founder urged mandatory cameras in special‑needs classrooms, and a senior volunteer group complained about missed commitments to donors and volunteers.
Several community members used the board’s public‑comment period on Sept. 3 to press the district on family engagement, equity and student safety.
Maria Marino, a parent at Unidos, said parents who volunteer and provide feedback feel ignored and described decisions that have excluded families, saying, "Parents student lunches were eliminated just at the beginning of this year... This creates exclusion and equity and violates the family engagement plan." She urged the board to "take immediate action to restore fairness, ensure proper communication, and give parents the respect and voice they deserve."
Christina McCullough, founder of the nonprofit Shine, urged 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," she said, adding that recorded video can protect both students and staff by providing an objective record when incidents occur.
Linda Jones, president of the Progressive Seniors Organization, said her group has donated roughly $1,000 in school supplies this year but has been disappointed when district representatives failed to meet volunteers on schedule after commitments were made. Jones asked the board to treat volunteer groups with professionalism and to follow through on agreed engagements.
The chair read the board’s public‑participation rules (policy BCBI) at the start of the period and noted that board members typically do not respond during public comment; the chair said issues raised that may require action could be added to a future agenda or noted for administrative follow up.
No formal board action on the specific requests (cameras policy, Unidos engagement complaints) was taken during the meeting; the concerns were recorded during public comment for possible future consideration.
