Chula Vista board narrows 'closed campus' policy, allows Raptor check‑in for morning drop‑off

The Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Education voted unanimously to amend a recently adopted safe‑campus policy so parents who register in the district’s Raptor visitor system may accompany students to morning drop‑off and leave campus by the first bell.

Superintendent Dr. Rey Reyes told the board the revised language clarifies the policy’s original intent and allows sites to use Raptor check‑in and QR‑code workflows to speed entry. Security lead Ahmed Wiggins demonstrated the Raptor Safe app, explaining parents who register receive a QR code that staff can scan to verify identity and grant brief, defined access.

The change followed nearly three hours of public comment from dozens of parents and staff. Supporters, including retired Marine Jose Miranda, described the amendment as balancing safety and family support. “I am here tonight to respectfully ask a yes vote on allowing Raptor enrollment at drop‑off … Safe access, verified adults, supported students,” Miranda said.

Opponents and cautious voices warned that Raptor screens for registered offenders but does not eliminate other safety risks and that implementation has imposed operational burdens on site staff. Teresa Corona, representing school administrators, urged the board to keep student safety paramount: “Screening is not the same as safety … it does not provide safety and supervision,” she said. Several speakers, including special‑education parents, asked the district to ensure sufficient staff, multiple check‑in points and equipment so the system does not create bottlenecks.

Trustees debated practical rollout questions, such as check‑out procedures, staff workload and whether the policy should be piloted. Trustee Tamayo offered the amendment scoring a compromise between the board’s prior unanimous closed‑campus vote and parents’ requests. President Ugarte said implementation must include staff training and funding to support Raptor at every site.

The motion passed 5‑0. The board directed Superintendent Reyes to send a community letter explaining the amendment, provide Raptor how‑to materials, and check that Raptor hardware and processes work at every school before full implementation.