During a recent school board meeting, parents voiced significant concerns regarding student safety and staff support in local schools. One parent highlighted the crucial role of school staff in maintaining a secure environment, emphasizing their daily interactions with students as vital to monitoring safety on campus.

The parent recounted a troubling observation while volunteering at UDLA, where she noted that her son's kindergarten teacher was responsible for 20 students without any paraprofessional assistance. This raised alarms about the teacher's ability to manage safety in a crisis. Similarly, while picking up her first-grade daughter, she observed a teacher managing 22 students, albeit with volunteer support, prompting concerns about safety when such assistance is unavailable.

The discussion also touched on the rising incidents of fights at Morales Junior High. The parent recalled feeling reassured last year by the low number of altercations but noted a stark increase in reports of fights from her daughter this year. With classes of up to 28 students, parents stressed the need for staff to be more proactive in recognizing and addressing potential conflicts before they escalate.

The meeting underscored a collective call for increased staffing and support to ensure that teachers can effectively monitor student behavior and maintain a safe learning environment.