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Parents press Corona Municipal Schools board over campus safety after reported incidents
Summary
Parents and staff pressed the Corona Municipal Schools board during public comment for faster, clearer action on campus safety after recent on-campus incidents; the district outlined immediate steps, vendor timelines for cameras and doors, and plans to seek county support and proposed substation/SRO arrangements.
Community members filled the boardroom and a zoom feed to tell the Corona Municipal Schools Board that recent safety incidents and what they described as deteriorating campus conditions demand faster action.
Public commenters recounted an incident involving a student bringing a gel/"Orbeez" projectile device to campus and at least one report of a stranger observed near school grounds. "Corona Schools today is a much different environment. It is in disarray," a parent said, and another, Nikkila Eldridge, told the board her family now drives 50 miles one way to bring their children to Corona.
Why it matters: Parents said slow follow-up and gaps in communication have left families uncertain whether the district is protecting students. Board members and administrators outlined short-term responses — locking classroom doors, increasing adult supervision on routes between buildings and scheduling deputy patrols — while describing procurement and technical steps needed for longer-term security upgrades.
District officials described a mix of operational and procurement issues. "The cameras were operational, but the doors were not," Curtis said, explaining that the district’s previous contractor left work incomplete and that door contacts flagged by the fire marshal require repair or replacement. He told the board the district had arranged vendor assessments and expected camera/door vendors on site the week of June 5–13 and that any work over the superintendent’s $60,000 approval threshold will be brought back to the board for approval. He also said deputies Preston and Gordon would be walking the hallways for several two-hour shifts the week after the incident to increase law enforcement presence.
Board members and parents pressed for clearer parent notification protocols. Administrators said the district is onboarding a panic/alert system tied to parent contact data and urged families to confirm up-to-date phone numbers; they also described planned training in July for staff on the new system.
What the board will do next: The board discussed sending a jointly signed letter to Lincoln County commissioners requesting additional resources — including the possibility of a substation or school resource officer — and agreed to finalize that letter for the county agenda. Administrators said they expect to present firm vendor proposals and any contracts exceeding the superintendent’s purchasing limit at the board meeting on June 11, after receiving risk and safety assessment reports from the county sheriff’s office and an insurance safety assessor.
Representative quotes
"Corona Schools today is a much different environment. It is in disarray," a parent said during public comment.
"My kids are the first ones in four generations to not go to CAPTAN... we drive 50 miles one way to Corona," Nikkila Eldridge said.
"The cameras were operational, but the doors were not," Curtis said, describing the technical problem that left exterior door contacts unsecured.
Ending
Board members asked administrators to return with the sheriff’s and risk-assessor reports, vendor quotes for door and perimeter-camera work, and a finalized draft of the county letter. The board extended public comment for the meeting to hear additional concerns and set a target to consider procurement approvals at its next scheduled meeting.
