Parent pleads for safety fencing after 29 elopement incidents

In a recent school board meeting, a parent passionately advocated for increased safety measures at Inanna School, highlighting the urgent need for fencing to protect students, particularly those with autism. The parent, who has two children enrolled at Inanna, reported that their son, who has severe elopement risks, had eloped from the school grounds 29 times during the past school year, raising serious concerns about his safety.

The parent emphasized that the lack of fencing has severely limited their son's ability to engage in peer interactions during outdoor playtime. They noted a stark contrast in their son's behavior since transferring to Chavez School, which is equipped with a fence. At Chavez, there have been no incidents of elopement, allowing him to play safely with friends.

Despite previous assurances from the board regarding the installation of fencing at Inanna, the parent expressed disappointment that only temporary measures had been implemented, which have since been removed. They urged the board to take immediate action to install permanent fencing at Inanna, stressing that without it, the risk of elopement will continue to escalate, jeopardizing the safety of their son and other students.

The parent concluded their appeal by acknowledging the efforts of the school staff to keep their son safe but reiterated the critical need for structural changes to ensure the well-being of all students at the school.