As parents whose child attends a Blue Valley School, we have found ourselves in an unsettling situation that has prompted us to bring forth this petition. We recently attended an elementary school dance with our child, where we soon discovered that approval for special request access was granted to a individual who is a registered offender. The crime? Distribution or receipt of child pornography via the internet. This person was neither a parent nor a guardian of a child at the school. We, along with other parents, were never informed that a registered offender would be in the midst of our children. This individual was not monitored during the event and was even caught using the camera setting of their phone.

I call for an immediate amendment of the Blue Valley School Board policy to prevent such incidents in the future. This is not just about protecting the children in our native Blue Valley, but setting a precedent for schools across the state. As of 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice has registered over 900,000 sex offenders, many of whom committed offences against minors (source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children). The current situation exposes children to potential threats and jeopardizes the child's right to safety. Thus, it's crucial that policies are in place that eliminate access to children, especially during school events by individuals with known offenses against children. 

In light of these events, we insist on the prohibition of approval for special request access to any individual who is a registered offender where the crime the individual was placed on the offender list involves a child. It’s about time that the safety and wellbeing of our kids takes precedence. We urge you to sign this petition to ensure our children's safety in schools.