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Trustees press for clearer communication after Del Oro lockdown; parent reports of students hiding in restrooms
Summary
Following a recent Del Oro lockdown triggered by a hoax threat, trustees said communication to staff and families should improve and asked sheriff's deputies to check unsupervised areas; one trustee described a freshman who hid in a bathroom for hours.
During board reports trustees raised concerns about a recent lockdown at Del Oro High School that had been triggered by what county officials described as a hoax. Trustee Duncan recounted conversations with parents and staff and urged better coordination with law enforcement during campus clearings, saying a freshman had reportedly hidden in a girls’ restroom for two to three hours during the incident: “I can't imagine what was going through the mind of that freshman girl when she's sitting… standing on top of the toilet for three hours not knowing what's happening,” he said.
Trustees pressed for clearer, more frequent communication to staff and families during incidents and for law enforcement to prioritize checking unsupervised spaces—bathrooms, locker rooms and isolated corridors—during a clearance. Trustee Lake emphasized different student experiences depending on access to cell phones and recommended monthly drills and improved interagency coordination. Superintendent Omali and other staff said the district is reviewing procedures and underscored that drills and real incidents provide learning opportunities for improving response and communications.
No formal action was taken; trustees directed staff to follow up with site administrators and county sheriff representatives to clarify roles during a response and to provide improved family notifications after any future incidents.
