Lynwood Unified board outlines city‑district plan after surge in illicit activity near Helen Keller

Board members and the superintendent on April 23 detailed immediate and planned steps to address community safety near Helen Keller Elementary after residents and trustees reported increased street activity and alleged human‑trafficking concerns.

Superintendent Dr. Giddings Rubungo told the Lynwood Unified School District Board that the district has increased campus safety officer presence during drop‑off and pick‑up, is evaluating camera and perimeter options and is coordinating with the city and local law enforcement. "Keeping our students safe requires strong partnerships," he said, urging residents to "if you see something, say something" and announcing a city‑district collaborative framework to set formal meeting dates.

The discussion gained urgency when Dr. Hardy, a board member, described seeing illicit activity near school sites and criticized what he said was inadequate law enforcement response. "I asked the Sheriff's Department...they told me that it really wasn't worth their time and energy at that time. That's an unacceptable answer," Dr. Hardy said, urging signage for designated safe‑school zones and stiffer enforcement that could carry higher penalties in school zones.

Other board members backed the collaborative approach. Dr. Cash said she has been pressing for scheduled city‑district meetings to align on community safety, urban planning and resource sharing. The board also noted short‑term steps such as opening additional campus entry points and continuing security presence through the end of the school year.

Board leaders emphasized limits on district authority and said long‑term change will require coordinated action with the city and, in some remarks, state policymakers. The superintendent said the district is pursuing a mix of operational changes (staffing and cameras), site‑level adjustments (entry points and signage), and policy‑level coordination within the planned city‑district framework. The board asked the superintendent to continue communicating meeting dates and solicit community participation.

The public safety discussion was followed by announcements that the district will seek to fold school‑closure conversations into the city‑district process to ensure community input. The meeting adjourned after routine consent votes and a report out from closed session.