Parents press board on playground fencing and preschool supports after supervision incident

A parent, Megan Butler, told the Shoals board she was alarmed after reviewing footage showing her five-year-old autistic son alone near the road beyond the playground during recess. Butler said the child was unattended for about two minutes before a passing parent alerted staff.

"He was down there by himself for a whole two minutes," Butler said, describing the child as autistic and non-conversational. She asked the board whether a permanent fence or gate planned for the area would be completed and whether the developmentally delayed preschool classroom still existed.

Board administrators and 'Larry' responded that a gate and permanent fencing are planned where the temporary orange fencing now stands and that a vendor who has previously completed work for the district has been contacted; they said they are "hoping so" that the work will be completed for the next school year. On the preschool question, administrators said the district now operates an inclusion preschool model rather than a separate developmental-delay classroom and that individual needs are handled through private conversations with parents and staff.

Separately, Seth Taylor raised procedural concerns about an executive session held June 3, saying the session lacked a certification that no matters outside the agenda were discussed and that signatures were missing. Taylor asked when the public would hear what was discussed outside the agenda items; the transcript records the question but no formal resolution in the meeting minutes about the executive-session certification.

The board acknowledged the parent comments, indicated staff follow-up about fencing and special-education placements, and tabled a facility-use request pending liability insurance information in a separate item.