Safety committee warns railroad sparks have sparked fires elsewhere; board to seek railroad response

The safety committee reported multiple safety concerns and asked the board to pursue follow-up with the railroad after members said diesel locomotives on a local line were observed emitting sparks that have caused fires in other communities.

A committee member told the board that SROs had flagged common problems — non-main doors left ajar during fair weather can create an entry risk — and said the committee had learned that local diesel engines sometimes expel sparks. "I took the initiative and responsibility to write the president of the railroad to tell him it's unacceptable from a school safety perspective, and I'd like to have a representative come and speak to us about their corrective actions," the committee member said.

Board members debated whether outreach should come from the safety committee or from the board chair after full-board discussion; committee representatives said they intended to invite a railroad official to a committee meeting and asked that the board direct staff as needed. The committee also presented a summary of adverse safety events and proposed forming a root-cause committee to examine repeated injuries tied to students described as "disregulated." Cheryl and Richard Jandro, who participated in the committee report, underscored the need to identify practical steps to reduce injuries.

Why it matters: the committee identified both immediate building-level practices (keep non-main doors secure) and an external safety risk (railroad sparks) that could affect district facilities and student safety. The board tasked staff and committee leaders with follow-up and discussion at a future meeting.