Parents question school policy after attemped child abductions

Several angry parents spoke at the Newton school board meeting Monday night about the district’s handling of the attempted abduction of several local children Nov. 10.

The school district sent home a note to parents Wednesday saying there had been an attempted abduction and urging parents to review abduction prevention procedures with their children.

Jill Rowland, parent, wondered why the school district did not use its emergency phone system to call parents to let them know about the attempted abductions.

“I got a call from the school to let me know to pick up fund-raising materials, but I did not get a call about a child molester,” she said.

If parents would have known, they could have picked their children up from school Wednesday, she said.

“I feel like the school put those kids in danger,” Amber Penner, parent, said.

Jennifer Penner, a parent of one of the children who was approached by the suspect, wanted to know why some parents weren’t notified until Friday. Penner said the information and the description of the suspect and his vehicle were available on Facebook within an hour of the incident.

She said she also had been promised the elementary school resource officer was going to be on site the day after the incident, but he was gone for training. She also questioned why the schools were not locked down after the first report of the suspect in the area.

“I think parents should have had an option to come get their kids,” she said. “I do not think there was enough faculty to manage the group.”

Superintendent John Morton said although the school resource officer was in training, patrols were stepped up around the schools following the incident. He also said doors remained locked at the school buildings during the school day.

Amber Penner, parent, said some parents did not receive notification about the attempted abductions until Friday, and some parents did not receive notification at all.

Dave Rowland, grandparent, said he was shocked the school district did not have a better plan to deal with such situations.

“I can’t believe you haven’t discussed this before what you would do in an instance like this,” he said.

“I know you need to do phone calls about fund-raisers, but my daughter can’t get a call about a child molester. You should be ashamed,” he said. “This should never happen again.”

The school board has a policy to not discuss items brought before them during public comments during that session. The issue could be placed on the agenda for discussion at a later date.

“We are taking your concern under advisement,” said Carol Sue Stayrook Hobbs, president of the board.

Morton said the district’s notification policy was under review, and changes might be made.

He said the school district has a good working relationship with the Newton Police Department, and they will continue discussing with them about how to timely inform parents of such incidents.

The Newton Police Department continues to investigate the attempted abductions.

“We have followed on several leads,” Lt. Eric Murphy of the Newton Police Department said. “We have not identified the suspect. Parents and kids need to continue to be cautious.”

Police continue to do extra patrols during the times children are walking to and home from school, Murphy said.

Morton said he also hopes to work more closely with the private schools in the city, including St. Mary and Newton Christian Bible School.

“Every situation is unique for the school district,” Morton said. “We want to review our procedures and improve our process and expedite the release of information.”

Morton said he thinks it is the school’s responsibility to keep children safe from the time they leave their homes in the morning until the time they return in the afternoon, and it is the district’s priority to keep children safe during these times.

The district also heard a report on its energy education plan. The district saved almost $1.4 million since the plan was instigated seven years ago.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the sale of surplus equipment.

• Approved a resolution to renew the district’s capital outlay mill levy authority. The levy is not to exceed 8 mills.

• Approved the name of the high school technical center as the Brooks Regional Center for Career and Technical Education.

• Approved the resignation of Gila Lavielle, special education teacher at Bentley School.

• Accepted a gift request of a Foosball table from Carrie VanSickle of Newton to the Alternative High School.

• Accepted a gift request of a set of encyclopedias to the Eby Learning Center from Carrie VanSickle of Newton.