Parent Theresa Felix also expressed concern over student safety. “I don’t want another Columbine to take place here,” she said. “I would rather prevent it. I wouldn’t doubt it that someday something like that happens. I do want to see more security there.” She said that she’s heard how children at Isbell back talk to their teachers. “There’s just no respect,” she said.Superintendent Dr. Luis Villegas says that Isbell School is a safe school. “The reports from the school are that fights are at a minimum, that there are lots of controls in place to monitor student behavior and they feel that the staffing that they have there at the school is adequate,” Villegas said. Aside from counselors, administrators and a full-time police Safety Resource Officer Villegas says there are two Campus Supervisors on site most of the day. “The staff, including the teachers feel that the school is well monitored and under control,” he added. He noted that two noon-duty time supervisors are being added to the staff. Prado noted at last week’s meeting that adding two additional supervisors at noon was not enough.As for Prado’s claim of retaliation against her, Villegas said he’s looking into that and believes everyone should be allowed to speak their mind without fear of action being taken against them.
Parents at Isbell Middle School upset over safety concerns
December 22, 2006
Santa Paula News
The safety of the Isbell Middle School campus remains an issue for some parents and staff at the school.
By Brian D. WilsonSanta Paula TimesThe safety of the Isbell Middle School campus remains an issue for some parents and staff at the school.The number of campus supervisors was recently reduced and one remaining supervisor has expressed concern over security. Jessie Prado works as a campus supervisor and is the parent of a student at the school. She told the board of trustees that fights are now more frequent, there’s been some sexual harassment ant tagging is happening on a daily basis. She said tagging is a safety concern because kids are tagging on top of other tagger’s marks.Another Isbell parent and Prado claim that administrators have retaliated against Prado because of her outspoken stance on the safety issue. She says most of her duties have been taken away from her since she spoke out as a parent before the board at an earlier meeting. “I just want to do what I’m paid to do,” Prado told the board. “I want to get back to my job. It’s hurting the kids for me not being able to do what I’m supposed to do.”
