Parents at Bromley East Charter School (BECS) in Brighton, Colorado, expressed concerns and sought answers from school leaders on Tuesday night. This town hall meeting followed an incident last week where bullets were discovered on school property, leading to a four-hour hold and limited communication with families.
The event highlighted ongoing parental frustrations regarding school safety protocols and the administration's response during critical situations. Many parents felt their questions were not fully addressed.
Key Takeaways
- Bullets were found at Bromley East Charter School, leading to a four-hour hold.
- Parents criticized school leadership for limited communication during the incident.
- A safety town hall was held, but many parents felt their questions were not answered directly.
- School acknowledged communication errors and plans to improve staff notifications.
- BECS is working to secure a full-time school resource officer.
Bullet Discovery Triggers School Hold
On Friday, three unspent ammunition rounds were located on the Bromley East Charter School property. This discovery prompted a "hold" protocol, keeping students in their classrooms while police officers conducted a search of the school grounds. No weapon was found during the search, and the individual responsible for bringing the bullets remains unidentified.
Jennifer Shaver, BECS executive director, stated during the town hall that the ammunition was initially found in a hallway before being moved into a classroom. "I just want to acknowledge that this event was not easy for anyone, and we hope something like this never happens again," Shaver told attendees.
Incident Details
- Date of Incident: Friday, September 26, 2025
- Items Found: Three unspent ammunition rounds
- Location: School hallway, moved to a classroom
- Response: Four-hour school hold, police search
- Outcome: No weapon found, no suspect identified
Parental Outcry Over Communication Breakdown
During the four-hour hold on Friday, parents reported receiving minimal updates from the school. This lack of information left many unsure about the situation and their children's safety. Several parents contacted local news outlets to express their frustration.
At the town hall, Ms. Shaver admitted that communication could have been better. She explained that the school did not want to cause unnecessary alarm by asking parents to come to the school during the ongoing police search. However, she recognized the need for more frequent updates.
"Given the length of the hold, it would have been appropriate to give families an update stating, 'We remain on hold and all students are safe,'" Shaver said.
Parent Ryan Liggett, who spoke with Denver7 before and after the town hall, noted this as a key area where school leaders took responsibility. However, he also felt that the meeting largely avoided direct answers to many parental concerns.
Background on School Safety
School safety protocols, including "hold" or "lockdown" procedures, are designed to protect students during potential threats. Effective communication during these events is crucial for maintaining trust between schools and families. Local law enforcement often works closely with school administrations to develop and implement these plans.
Town Hall Fails to Satisfy Many Parents
The safety town hall on Tuesday night only addressed questions submitted in advance. School leaders stated they received over 250 questions but condensed them into approximately one hour of discussion. This format left many parents feeling unheard and unsatisfied with the responses.
Ryan Liggett described the answers as mostly general, often citing policy without providing specific details about Friday's incident. He believes the meeting was organized primarily due to social media pressure from parents over the weekend.
"It was a lot of general, 'We can't speak about that. Here's our policy.' There was no specifics," Liggett stated. "They're trying to make it very low-key. They put this meeting together because of the social media uproar that happened over the weekend. I do not believe this would have happened without us parents speaking out."
Another parent, who chose to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, called for changes in school leadership. He felt the administration selected questions that presented them in a favorable light rather than addressing difficult issues.
Internal Communication Issues Identified
Beyond parent communication, Ms. Shaver also revealed that internal communication among staff members was flawed during the incident. Staff were supposed to receive notifications at the same time as parents but did not.
This error occurred because the staff communication was not properly linked with the parent communication when both were being prepared. Typically, the school aims to send out notifications to both groups simultaneously, ensuring consistent information.
Shaver explained that the school's practice moving forward will be to include parent communications within staff notifications. This change aims to ensure all staff members have the same information provided to the parent community, improving consistency during future incidents.
Future Safety Measures and Ongoing Investigation
While no major safety policy updates were announced, Ms. Shaver confirmed that Bromley East Charter School is actively working to secure a full-time school resource officer (SRO). The leadership is currently in the process of filling this new position.
The Brighton Police Department's investigation into the bullet discovery is still ongoing. Parents are hopeful for a resolution, seeking accountability for whoever brought the ammunition to school. The incident has left many families concerned about the safety of their children.
This recent event follows another security concern one month prior, when a student reported being approached by a suspicious man outside the school. In response to that incident, Brighton Police increased patrols in the area surrounding BECS.
Ryan Liggett expressed the deep impact on families: "It's disheartening. You know, I have multiple kids in this school, and we're about to send them back to school, and they have no idea what happened."
