We, the undersigned parents, students, and community members of Platte Valley School District RE-7, are calling for the immediate enforcement of existing district policies that protect student rights and ensure staff accountability.

District policy governing student searches clearly limits what school personnel are allowed to do. Searches that involve the removal of clothing beyond outerwear are required to be referred to law enforcement, and school staff are not permitted to conduct those searches. Despite this, actions were taken that went beyond these limits.

However, rather than enforcing these existing policies when a violation occurred, district leadership has indicated an intent to rewrite policy. This is unacceptable.

The issue is not a lack of policy. The district already has clear rules in place. The issue is a failure to educate staff members of this districts policy including the superintendent. Changing policy in response to a violation does not correct the problem—it avoids accountability and weakens the protections currently in place for students.

WE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING:

1. Immediate enforcement of all existing student search policies as written.
2. No revisions to policy that would reduce or weaken current student protections.
3. FULL accountability for any violations of district policy.
4. Transparency regarding how "reasonable suspicion" is determined and applied as well as who trains them to identify.
5. Clear assurance that no excessively intrusive searches will be conducted.

We stand in firm opposition to any attempt to alter policy in a way that justifies actions that current policy was designed to prevent. Student safety, dignity and rights must remain the priority in this district.