Parents praise Ram Rugby and urge fence at Meadow Ridge for students with autism

Several Rockford parents used the public‑comment portion of the board meeting to both celebrate student achievement and press the district on student-safety concerns.

Andy Konis, who identified himself as the team mom for Ram rugby, asked the board to 'shine a light' on the program and to provide resources and equipment after describing a season in which both varsity teams were undefeated and advanced to state championship games. "Ram rugby includes 50 remarkable student athletes and four dedicated coaches," Konis said, adding that the students excel academically and in community service.

Later in public comment, Cammy Brown, parent of a Meadow Ridge student in a classroom serving students with autism, asked the board to install perimeter fencing at Meadow Ridge to reduce the risk of elopement. Brown presented statistics during her remarks and argued that a fence would provide environmental cues and preserve student dignity by reducing the need for staff to chase a running child. Her statement included a cited statistic about elopement fatalities for people with autism; the figure was presented as a claim in public comment and was not independently verified during the meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Matthews said the district has been "exploring fencing at Meadow Ridge" and that administrators will finalize recommendations after consulting the principal and neighborhood stakeholders. "We agree with Miss Brown that eloping is a concern that we want to address," he said, committing to continued conversation and outreach to nearby residents.

Other public commenters offered thanks to individual teachers and coaches, including praise for a science teacher and for multiple athletic and arts staff who were named during remarks. The board did not take a formal vote on fencing at the meeting but directed administrators to continue the discussion and report back.