To Salem-Keizer School District Board Chair Richardson, Members of the School Board, and Superintendent Castaneda:

We, the undersigned parents, grandparents, students, educators, and concerned community members, call on the Salem-Keizer School District to take immediate and meaningful action to strengthen school safety, improve transparency, increase accountability, and establish regular review of district safety policies.

Every child deserves to learn in an environment where they feel safe, protected, supported, and able to focus on learning. Safety is not separate from education—it is the foundation that makes education possible. When students do not feel safe, academic achievement, mental well-being, attendance, and trust in the school system all suffer.

Across our community, families are raising increasing concerns regarding bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, violence, suicide risk and mental health crises, drug activity and exploitation, gang-related concerns, harmful peer pressure, and other threats affecting students both on and off campus. At the same time, there is growing concern that some district safety policies and procedures may be outdated or have not undergone meaningful review in many years.

Schools today face challenges that are vastly different from those of a decade ago. Policies that are outdated, inconsistently enforced, or insufficiently reviewed cannot adequately protect students, staff, or families in today’s environment.

Equally concerning is the lack of consistent transparency surrounding school safety data and outcomes. Families deserve clear and regular reporting regarding:

         -bullying and cyberbullying incidents,
         -suspensions and expulsions,
         -arrests and law enforcement involvement,
         -students leaving campus during school hours,
          -violence and safety-related incidents,
          -and other indicators impacting student well-being and campus safety.

Without accurate tracking, public reporting, and regular review, serious trends and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable student populations can remain hidden and unaddressed.

Families also deserve timely communication when student safety is involved. Parents should not learn at the end of the day that their child left campus, was involved in a serious incident, or may have been exposed to harm hours earlier. Delayed notification limits the ability of families to respond quickly and undermines trust between schools and the communities they serve.

We therefore call on the School Board and Superintendent to implement the following actions:

Requested Actions
     1. Increase Transparency
           Provide regular public reporting on key school safety metrics, including:

               disciplinary incidents,
               suspensions and expulsions,
               bullying and cyberbullying cases,
               campus safety incidents,
               arrest and law enforcement data,
               and student safety trends across the district.

  2. Strengthen Accountability
        Establish and enforce clear district-wide standards for:

              timely parental notification,
              consistent enforcement of safety protocols,
              documentation and follow-up of incidents,
              and accountability for implementation at every school.

 3. Conduct Regular Policy Review
        Implement a formal and recurring review process for all school safety-related policies to ensure they              remain current, effective, transparent, and responsive to emerging risks affecting students today.

4. Prioritize Student Well-Being
       Expand focus on prevention, intervention, mental health support, and early identification of students            at risk, while creating safer and more supportive school environments for all students.

This petition is not a request for symbolic reassurances or temporary responses. It is a call for sustained action, measurable accountability, and transparent leadership.

By acting now, the Salem-Keizer School District can help restore public trust, strengthen student safety, support educators and families, and ensure that every student has the secure learning environment they deserve.

We respectfully urge the Board and Superintendent to act without delay and thank you for listening and taking our concerns seriously. 

Respectfully, 

Concerned Citizens of Salem & Keizer.