To the Principal of Carrington Elementary School, the Waterbury Board of Education, the Superintendent, and Waterbury Public Schools Administration:

 

We, the undersigned parents, guardians, family members, educators, advocates, and concerned community members, respectfully petition for the installation of video cameras in the special education classrooms at Carrington Elementary School and, ultimately, throughout Waterbury Public Schools.

 

This petition is being brought forward because some of our most vulnerable students cannot tell us what happens during their school day.

 

Many children in special education programs, including nonverbal autistic students and children with significant communication disabilities, are unable to communicate when they have been injured, frightened, neglected, or mistreated. When these children return home with unexplained bruises, scratches, marks, or injuries, families are often left with questions that cannot be answered.

 

For families of nonverbal children, the inability to know what happened to their child during the school day is devastating. These children depend entirely on the adults around them to protect their safety, dignity, and well-being.

 

No parent should have to wonder how their child was injured while at school.

 

Classroom cameras would provide an additional layer of protection and accountability by:

 

• Protecting students who cannot advocate for themselves.

 

• Providing objective documentation when incidents occur.

 

• Helping families and school officials determine how injuries happen.

 

• Increasing transparency and trust between families and the school system.

 

• Protecting teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and staff from false allegations.

 

• Promoting a safer learning environment for everyone.

 

This petition is not intended to accuse any individual employee, teacher, or staff member of wrongdoing. Rather, it is a call for proactive measures that protect students and support staff through transparency and accountability.

 

We respectfully request that Carrington Elementary School and the Waterbury Board of Education:

 

Place this issue on the agenda within 30 days of receiving this petition.

Conduct a formal review of installing cameras in Carrington Elementary School’s special education classrooms.

Provide a written response to parents and community members within 60 days.

Develop and implement a policy establishing cameras in special education classrooms, beginning at Carrington Elementary School and expanding throughout Waterbury Public Schools.

 

Every child deserves to be safe at school.

 

Every educator deserves protection through accurate documentation.

 

Every family deserves peace of mind.

 

Most importantly, every nonverbal child deserves a voice.

 

We urge Carrington Elementary School and the Waterbury Board of Education to act now and take meaningful steps to protect the students who are least able to protect themselves.