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Parents raise alarm over classroom intrusion at Heritage Elementary; district says police, access controls and cameras are being expanded
Summary
A parent described an Oct. 22 classroom intrusion at Heritage Elementary that left students frightened and, she said, exposed gaps in site security. District staff told the board they responded with SROs, a 14-day stay-away order, and accelerated installation of buzzer access controls and cameras at Heritage and other sites.
A Chula Vista parent told the school board on Nov. 14 that a visitor who misrepresented herself gained classroom access on Oct. 22, used profanity and threats toward a student and substitute teacher, and left without the school initiating a lockdown. "My children should not be scared of going to school," Delilah Cameron said during public comment, urging clearer communication and more staff presence at Heritage Elementary.
District safety chief Mr. Romero said the district responded immediately when notified: Chula Vista Police were called, school resource officers were deployed to the site, a 14-day stay-away order was issued to the parent and the student allegedly involved is no longer at Heritage. Romero told trustees the district is installing access-control buzzer systems at McMillan, Veterans and Heritage "within the next few days" and is piloting expansion districtwide. He also said the district has an RFP out for cameras to complete installations at about 20 remaining schools.
The board pressed administration for operational details. Trustees asked whether the EJIX emergency app was activated at Heritage and whether classroom doors are being locked from the inside; Romero said he will confirm EJIX activation and follow up in the Friday update. Trustees were told the cost for remote door control installations varies by site due to sightlines and camera needs; staff cited component estimates ranging from approximately $1,200—,500 up to about $3,000 at some sites.
Trustees and staff agreed to hold a community meeting at Heritage so families can hear what steps the district has taken and what will change. Romero said the district will continue staff training on incident management and Stop the Bleed, with dates listed for January and February 2025, and noted the district provides access to about nine SROs districtwide (the district pays for roughly 4.5 officer positions and has two dedicated safety-team members).
Board members called for clearer, site-level communication immediately following incidents. Trustee Dominguez Cervantes asked that the district coordinate an in-person meeting "either this afternoon or the next morning" following major events to ensure parents get in-person briefings; Romero and other staff agreed to prioritize a meeting and provide the requested Friday update.
The district described these actions as proactive steps to close security gaps; community members at the meeting pressed for faster timelines, consistent communication and clarity on staffing at small schools that rely on part-time nurses, counselors and vice principals. The board requested that administration report back on EJIX activation, the planned timeline for buzzer and camera installations by site, and follow-up steps for Heritage families.
