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Parents, students and local official press Orange board on safety, coach vetting and lunch quality
Summary
During public comment March 12, Councilwoman Quantavia Hilbert requested space for a Girl Scout troop; a student reported students getting sick from lunches; and a commenter raised concerns about fingerprinting and vetting for coaches in the city recreation program.
Several members of the public used the board's comment period on March 12 to raise safety and operational concerns.
Councilwoman Quantavia Hilbert asked the board to approve school district meeting space for a new Girl Scout troop of 21 members, saying the troop currently meets at the public library and needs a safer, dedicated location. "Our citywide troop has grown to 21 members," Hilbert said, requesting board approval for facility use.
Lisa Canan, president of the OEAI, urged the board to address building maintenance problems, citing fire door issues and a persistent sewer smell in a cafeteria. "Staff go above and beyond for our students," Canan said, and invited the board to visit classrooms to see the conditions firsthand.
An attendee identified as Mr. Williams questioned whether all Orange Basketball League coaches had completed fingerprinting and district vetting. Ms. Johnson advised the commenter that the city runs the league while the district oversees facility use and asked Ms. Masoud to follow up on the fingerprinting question. Board attorney substitute Jessica Kleen recommended verifying whether stipend rules differ between elementary and high school programs before issuing a public response.
Student Dacheler Evra of Rosa Parks Community School thanked the district for lighting repairs and reported that some students had become sick from undercooked or spoiled lunches. "Many students do not enjoy the lunch options and are forced to eat them due to limited alternatives," Evra said, urging better‑cooked and more diverse food choices.
What happens next: Board members requested staff follow up on the fingerprinting and stipend questions and did not record an operational response to the student’s food‑safety claim during the meeting; the district will need to investigate those items through staff channels.
