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Parents urge classroom cameras in special‑education rooms; teacher asks for bereavement days
Summary
Two public commenters asked the board for policy changes: one parent asked for cameras in self‑contained special education classrooms for safety and documentation; a teacher and union representative asked the district to restore three bereavement days for staff.
During public comment the board heard two requests.
Jennifer Moore, a parent, asked trustees to install cameras in every self‑contained special education classroom to increase student safety, provide evidence in cases of alleged abuse, and support staff training. Moore argued the infrastructure is largely in place (hallway cameras and bus cameras exist) and adding in‑class cameras would increase transparency and deter neglect. “Cameras in special education classrooms provide several significant benefits…they can provide an unbiased record for incident resolution,” Moore said.
Bridal Smith, a pre‑K teacher and union representative, told the board she recently experienced a death in her family and learned the district currently does not provide bereavement leave days. Smith asked trustees to reinstate at least three bereavement days for employees to grieve and manage funeral logistics, saying employees are not able to perform effectively while dealing with immediate bereavement.
Board president thanked speakers and reminded the public that the board cannot act on items not on the posted agenda during public comment; the administration said staff will review the bereavement request and the request about cameras for appropriate legal and policy considerations.
