Public commenter tells board parents often learn of student elopements by email, not phone

During public comment at the start of the meeting, Unidentified Speaker 2, a community member attending remotely, urged the district to clarify how parents are notified when a child elopes or is missing from a classroom.

"We're having situations ... parents are being notified via email, not even getting phone calls, and it's hours after a kid's eloped or a child has actually went missing within the building," the commenter said, urging the board to examine notification practice and whether existing policy covers the situation.

Board members responded that the student attendance policy (7006) and building practices appear to cover notification and that administrative practices, and building-level management, should be reviewed to ensure timely parent contact. Unidentified Speaker 1 noted the attendance policy language would be addressed later in the meeting and asked staff to follow up with principals and the superintendent if needed.

The board did not resolve the specific complaint during this session but directed that the attendance-policy redline and building procedures be reviewed to clarify acceptable channels and timelines for parent notification.