Parents at Jennie Reed Elementary School in Tacoma are expressing significant concern over student safety and a lack of communication from the school district. Their frustration follows two separate incidents near the campus, including a physical altercation between a parent and an unidentified individual, about which they say the district failed to provide timely notification.
Key Takeaways
- An unidentified person reportedly threatened a child and fought with a parent outside Jennie Reed Elementary on Monday.
- Parents claim Tacoma Public Schools did not inform them about this incident or a separate fight that occurred nearby on Tuesday.
- The safety concerns are amplified by ongoing tensions at the school related to significant staff cuts and a recent teacher protest.
- District officials have not yet commented on the parents' communication complaints.
Altercation Occurs at Parent Pickup
The primary incident took place on a Monday afternoon as parents were picking up their children. According to reports, an unknown individual approached vehicles outside the elementary school, leading to a confrontation with a parent. The situation escalated into a physical fight.
During the altercation, teachers reported that the suspect allegedly threatened to "get their child." The parent involved in the conflict punched the suspect, who then left the area. As of now, law enforcement has not identified the individual involved.
The Importance of School Communication
Federal and state laws often mandate how and when schools must communicate threats to the school community. Timely alerts are considered a critical component of modern school safety protocols, allowing parents to take extra precautions and helping to maintain trust between families and the institution.
A Second Unrelated Incident Adds to Worries
Just one day later, on Tuesday, another incident occurred a few blocks away from the Jennie Reed Elementary campus. Tacoma police responded to reports of a fistfight. During this separate event, a gun was reportedly mentioned, although authorities confirmed that no firearm was actually seen at the scene.
Parents stated they were also not officially informed about this second incident by the school or the district. The lack of information about two concerning events in two days has fueled a growing sense of unease among the school community.
Information Flow Breakdown
Parents reportedly learned about the incidents not through official channels, but after an internal email was circulated among campus staff members. This has led to questions about the district's communication policies regarding potential safety threats.
Parents Demand Transparency from the District
The absence of official communication has become the central point of frustration for many families. They argue that being kept in the dark prevents them from making informed decisions about their children's safety.
"Why isn’t my school notifying me that this is happening, so that way we can address it appropriately?" asked Stephenie Troftgruben, a district parent, in an interview.
Her sentiment was shared by others who feel the district has a fundamental responsibility to report such events. Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told KIRO 7, "It worries me, because at the end of the day, my child goes to the school. I need to make sure that my child is safe at all times."
These parents believe that even if an incident is resolved quickly, knowledge of the event is crucial. The core issue is the principle of transparency and the right to be aware of potential dangers near where their children learn and play.
Broader Tensions Over Budget and Staffing Cuts
The communication breakdown is occurring amidst a backdrop of significant turmoil within the school community, primarily centered on upcoming staff cuts. Jennie Reed Elementary has been vocal about its opposition to the district's plans, which many fear will negatively impact student support and classroom environments.
These tensions culminated in a protest on the Friday preceding the incidents. Approximately 35 teachers and paraeducators participated in a coordinated "sick out," a form of protest where staff members call in sick en masse. An anonymous employee confirmed the action led to a significant staffing shortage at the school.
District Responds to Protests
In response to the teacher protest, Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) deployed central office staff to Jennie Reed Elementary to cover the resulting shortages and ensure the school could remain operational. The district has since launched an internal investigation into the sickout.
According to district policy, participation in such labor actions could have severe consequences for the educators involved, potentially including job loss and impacts on their teaching certificates. The timeline for this investigation has not been made public. To date, Tacoma Public Schools has not responded to media requests for comment on either the parent communication complaints or the details of the staff protest.