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Parents and staff press Poudre School District to change student search rules and restore equity data access
Summary
Several public commenters urged the Board of Education to revise search and interrogation policies to ensure timely parental notification and to restore public access to the Equity Insights dashboard; commenters also called for stronger shared decision-making and equity guardrails for consolidation decisions.
Multiple community members used the April 14 public-comment period to press the Poudre School District R-1 board for policy changes and greater transparency.
Cassandra Moore told the board she wants PSD to align its search and interrogation practices with neighboring districts that require parental notification. "I respectfully ask the district to consider how this policy is in the best interest of our children," Moore said, describing a situation in which her child — who has documented disabilities — was searched and interviewed by school staff and a school resource officer without timely parental notification. Moore urged use of mental-health staff and parent involvement when students with disabilities are questioned or searched.
Chris Lindsay, a school counselor at Rocky Mountain High School, called for a more robust shared decision-making model so school-based educators are meaningfully consulted on curriculum, graduation requirements and other decisions that affect classroom workload and student outcomes.
Danny Lawrence told the board he had been shown an Equity Insights dashboard privately last year but could not find the same data publicly. "I hope as a committee, you would be willing to share with the rest of us what our board of elected members might be failing to consider," Lawrence said, urging reinstatement of public equity data and arguing it is necessary for informed public input on consolidation criteria.
Board members acknowledged the comments and said the Comprehensive Planning Committee will address equity in upcoming work sessions. Director remarks during committee reports noted an equity presentation scheduled for May and a series of public engagement sessions. The board did not make a specific new policy action at the April 14 meeting on searches or dashboard restoration, but several directors said they recognize the public concern and will route it to relevant committees for follow-up.
The meeting record includes transcription inconsistencies for a few speaker names and school spellings (for example, a commenter referenced a district dashboard by name but could not locate it). Where the transcript alternates spellings for speakers or schools, the board and staff responses focused on the substance of requests: parental notification, supports for students with disabilities during interviews or searches, and public access to equity data.
