Why This Petition Matters

Parents send their children to school with the expectation that every reasonable precaution is being taken to keep them safe.

Recently, parents in our community became aware that a registered sex offender has reportedly been permitted on Circleville City Schools property in connection with picking up children and attending school events. We understand that this individual may legally be permitted to do so under current laws or conditions of release. Our concern is not about taking the law into our own hands or targeting an individual, it is about asking whether our school district's policies provide the strongest protections legally available for our children.

Many parents were unaware that a registered offender could potentially enter school property under these circumstances. That realization has raised understandable questions about visitor policies, administrative approval, supervision, and what safeguards are in place when a registered offender who is not a child's legal parent or guardian has reason to be on campus.

Legal permission and school policy are not necessarily the same thing. Even when someone's presence does not violate criminal law or conditions of release, we believe our district should examine whether additional reasonable safeguards can legally be implemented.

This petition is not about fear, rumors, harassment, or public shaming. It is about prevention, transparency, and creating a clear district-wide policy before there is ever a reason to wish we had one.

We are asking Circleville City Schools and the Board of Education to review the current policy, consult legal counsel, and implement the strongest reasonable and lawful protections available for students. 

We respectfully ask Circleville City Schools to:

Conduct an immediate review of its policies concerning registered sex offenders entering school buildings, grounds, events, and student pickup areas.

Require registered sex offenders who are not a student's legal parent or guardian to receive advance administrative authorization before entering school property when legally permissible to impose such a requirement.

Establish appropriate restrictions for approved access, which may include designated pickup locations, direct supervision, limited areas of access, specific arrival/departure procedures, and restrictions on volunteering, chaperoning, classroom visits, or other unnecessary contact with students.

Require the district to verify and document applicable court orders, probation/parole or supervised-release restrictions when the district becomes aware that a registered offender is regularly entering school property.

Develop a written individualized safety plan when an offender must be granted access because of parental rights, court orders, disability-access requirements, or other legal considerations.

Have the proposed policy and procedures reviewed by the district's legal counsel to ensure they protect students while complying with state and federal law.

Provide parents with clear information about the district's general safety procedures and visitor-access policies to the fullest extent legally permitted, while protecting confidential student information.