As a deeply concerned parent, I have recently experienced the fear and frustration of knowing that a child was abused at my children's school .A teacher at my daughter's school was caught harming a child, but without concrete evidence beyond witness testimony, justice is elusive. This incident has left me with an unsettling feeling of vulnerability for my two non-verbal autistic children who cannot express their experiences to me.

In Kanawha County, we are home to over 26,000 students across our schools (source: WV Department of Education). Each one deserves a safe learning environment where parents can feel secure about their children's well-being. Classroom cameras can provide this assurance by offering an unbiased record of events within the classroom. They not only protect our children from potential harm but also safeguard teachers from false accusations.

The implementation of classroom cameras is not unprecedented. In Texas, for instance, legislation passed in 2015 allows parents and staff to request cameras in special education classrooms (source: Texas Education Agency). The results have been overwhelmingly positive with increased transparency and accountability.

We need similar protective measures here in Kanawha County. Our children's safety should be paramount above all else; they deserve nothing less than a secure space where they can focus on learning without fear or apprehension.

Please join me in urging the Kanawha County School Board to require mandatory installation of cameras inside all classrooms across our county schools. Your signature could make a significant difference in ensuring the safety and security of our precious young learners.