The fight for safety continues

continued from pg. 1 to allow for the community to express concerns. More than 800 people were present and voicing their opinions. Kaitlin Wood, a parent, said, “I came to get answers. I’ve been to board meetings and parents aren’t getting answers.”

Concerns about the way information was communicated during the lockdown was a common theme. A few students pointed out that they are consistently learning about incidents from peers or social media rather than directly from school officials.

Will Mosier, a student at Maria Carrillo High School expressed frustration about the failure of the system, especially when it comes to solving conflicts. “When students get in a fight, they should be offered counseling instead of receiving a slap on the wrist,” said Mosier.

The other major point expressed at the meeting was the lack of resources available for mental health. It is estimated that only five counselors are on campus for about 1500 students. Many parents feel the district should hire more counselors or other qualified staff members.

“I want to see students identified when they have behavior issues. And when they are identified, they [should] receive the mental health that they deserve,” said Reuben Crow Feather, a member of the Lakota tribe.

Students and parents have mixed feelings about bringing police officers back on campus. Rather, they ask for more restorative justice. Students, parents and teachers are taking action and urging for more youth support after the death of 16-year-old Jayden Pienta. Santa Rosa City School superintendent Ann Trunell is promising changes to the way in which the school notifies people about emergency situations.

Ana Fingerson and Rosalee Padilla contributed to this report