A surge of parents and grandparents pressed the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District board at a special meeting to explain why broad parent notification about an alleged on-campus sexual assault by a custodian came weeks after the district first learned of the allegations. Speakers described video evidence, cited privacy and criminal investigations, and demanded immediate reforms to hiring, supervision and notification practices.

Superintendent (referred to in the meeting as Dr. Owa) told the meeting the district was notified of the matter on Oct. 16, coordinated with the county sheriffand the Department of Human Services and delayed wide notification while investigators worked and while the district assessed privacy constraints under federal law. "When we started this process, when we were notified October 16, we immediately wanted to meet with the parents who had students who were directly impacted," she said, adding the district would speed and clarify notifications going forward.

The districtattorney, Scott Richardson, warned the room about legal limits on what the board can release. "The district cannot release information about your children that they hold, except under very specific circumstances," he said, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the need to avoid impeding a possible prosecution.

Parents said those constraints did not excuse silence. "We demand transparent and auditable records of the mandated training, the security protocols, and administrative presence that has been implemented recently," said Christian Sinclair, who told the board she was told by the sheriff's office that the investigation closed Nov. 3. Another parent said she was initially shown three videos of her child but later told investigators there were eight; she also said a police report given to her contained minorsnames that were not redacted.

Multiple speakers urged practical changes: stricter background checks and reference checks, restored or increased adult supervision in cafeterias and at less-structured times, longer surveillance retention and clearer, multi-channel notifications to parents. "No child should ever be harmed in a place that is meant to nurture and protect our kids," said Nathan Collins, a parent, calling for stronger hiring and monitoring.

The principal of the affected school, identified in the meeting as Lindsey Jones, spoke to the crowd and apologized. She said she had been placed on administrative leave Dec. 1 and that she chose resignation rather than a termination option; she also said staffing decisions such as cutting lunch monitors were driven by budget shortfalls. The district said the employee was placed on paid administrative leave and was terminated Nov. 3, which ended pay.

District representatives said technical limits affect how long video remains available, noting varying server capacity by school and stating the longest current retention is about 90 days. Administration said it is working on restoring lunch monitors and other positions if funding can be increased and encouraged parents to use the districtvolunteer system subject to background checks.

The meeting closed after roughly two hours of public comment; district staff said counseling services and additional supports would be made available to students. The board said it will review hiring and notification policies and that further information would be provided as investigations and privacy rules allow.