Teacher urges Sunnyvale district to revise workplace violence policy after neighborhood incidents

During public comment March 12, Heather Burns, a teacher at San Miguel Elementary, urged the district to strengthen its workplace violence prevention measures after a series of incidents involving a nearby resident.

Burns described staff reports that a neighbor repeatedly acted in ways staff found hostile, including sitting outside classrooms watching students, racially mocking African American staff and one incident in which the neighbor blocked a staff member's car. Burns said staff felt unsafe and that district follow-up was limited; she said a later event prompted public safety officers to respond. "We reported an incident... Staff shared that they were afraid and felt threatened," Burns said, and she asked the district to revise the workplace violence plan to align with California Labor Code section 6401.9 so the plan covers acts occurring at school that affect staff safety.

Trustees thanked Burns for the report and indicated they would consider the requested review. The board noted it cannot respond to non‑agenda items in depth during the meeting but thanked speakers for raising matters staff can follow up on through appropriate channels.