Residents urge council to press schools after parents report convicted offender on Pierce preschool grounds

Residents and parents urged the Chelsea City Council on during public comment to press the school district for stricter controls after they said a person with a federal conviction has been given building access at Pierce preschool.

"I recently learned that there is a child *** offender parent at Pierce, and he has been given a door code to the building and access to the hallways and bathrooms of that school," said James Griffin, who identified himself as a Chelsea resident and a concerned parent. Griffin said he had been told by a security director the person has had access since February and that parents received an unsatisfactory, "vague explanation with no resolution."

The concern was echoed by Jacob Delamater, who said he has received photos and messages showing the man on school property and asked council to pressure the school board and local legislators. "This guy is allowed to walk through our schools with no check-in process, no supervision," Delamater said, adding that he has seen the individual hold a preschool door open and walk onto campus. He urged the council to pursue a school resource officer and police presence during drop-off and pick-up.

Council members did not take action on the comments during the meeting; the public-comment speakers asked the council to contact the school board and to explore options for limiting access, including mandatory check-in procedures for non-staff and assigning a school resource officer. The mayor and council thanked the speakers and said appropriate staff or officials would follow up.

The comments came during a broader public-comment period that also included calls for greater school security and for the city to press the school board on policy gaps. The council did not report a formal directive to school administrators at the meeting; any follow-up would be through the city manageror staff as appropriate.