Parents and teachers press Natomas Unified trustees on campus safety and special-education failures

A prolonged public-comment period at the May 7 meeting focused on allegations of unsafe conditions and inadequate special-education services at multiple Natomas Unified campuses.

Teachers and parents gave detailed accounts of campus incidents they said occurred at Natomas Park Elementary, H. Allen Heights, Natomas Middle, Inderkum and other sites. "It is not safe to allow families slash any adults to roam freely around our campus without a visitors pass," teacher Christine Keenan said, calling for a closed campus or stronger visitor protocols. Multiple teachers described daily aggressive behaviors, elopements during recess, and cases when staff called the office and received no response.

Several parents reported students being physically assaulted, exposed to sexual contact and otherwise harmed on campus. For example, Natasha Schlau described a kindergarten student who was allegedly inappropriately touched in a bathroom and said the family filed a police report. Another parent and multiple staff asked for more one-on-one aides, behavioral supports and timely IEP testing; speakers described long delays in assessments and unmet IEP timelines. A community representative from Natomas Black Parents United read a statement of no confidence in the assistant superintendent for students and support services and said families will submit a formal resolution.

Board President Grant repeatedly instructed speakers about meeting decorum and said staff would reach out to families to follow up; trustees voted to grant extra time to some speakers and acknowledged receipt of written materials and data submitted by community members. No formal personnel actions were taken at the meeting; trustees approved staffing augmentations earlier in the agenda that staff said were responsive to district needs and would be reported back to the board.