PETITION TO SUPERINTENDENT BRIAN YEARWOOD & JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: INSTALL CAMERAS IN ALL MSD & ECE CLASSROOMS

We, the parents, caregivers, educators, advocates, and community members of Jefferson County, are demanding immediate action from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS): install video and audio surveillance in all MSD (Moderate to Severe Disabilities) and ECE (Exceptional Child Education) classrooms district-wide.

This petition comes after deeply disturbing allegations involving a nonverbal autistic student in a JCPS MSD classroom that have shaken families throughout our community and are currently under investigation. A child who could not speak for himself was allegedly harmed by someone entrusted with his care. Without video evidence, his voice may never have been heard.

For parents of nonverbal, autistic, medically fragile, and disabled children, this fear is not new.

Many of our children cannot tell us what happened at school. They cannot always explain bruises, emotional distress, behavioral changes, fear, neglect, mistreatment, or abuse. When behaviors suddenly change, parents are often left wondering: What happened when my child could not tell me?

We send our most vulnerable children to school believing they are safe.

But safety should never rely solely on trust. Safety requires accountability.

This petition is not anti-teacher. We recognize and deeply appreciate the many incredible MSD and ECE teachers, assistants, therapists, and staff who advocate daily for children with disabilities. Cameras would not only protect students — they would also protect caring staff from false allegations while providing transparency for everyone involved.

For years, parents of special needs children in JCPS have asked for greater transparency and accountability within MSD and ECE classrooms. Families have voiced concerns over staffing shortages, classroom incidents, inconsistent support, and the challenges that come when vulnerable children cannot communicate what happens during the school day.

As parents of children in the MSD and ECE programs, many of us have firsthand experience with difficult situations — from repeated calls to pick up our children due to behaviors, to classrooms struggling from inadequate staffing and insufficient training. These realities only reinforce why stronger protections are needed.

Several states, including Texas, already allow parents or staff to request cameras in self-contained special education classrooms to increase accountability and student safety. Yet JCPS currently limits surveillance primarily to hallways, cafeterias, entrances, and common areas — while the classrooms housing many of our district’s most vulnerable students remain without the same protections.

We are demanding that JCPS immediately:

1. Install video and audio recording equipment in every MSD and ECE classroom district-wide.
2. Create clear parent-access policies for investigations involving student safety, abuse allegations, neglect, or serious incidents.
3. Ensure recordings are securely stored and reviewed when concerns arise to protect both students and staff.
4. Provide stronger training and oversight for staff working with disabled and nonverbal students.
5. Support legislation — including a proposed “Samaj’s Law” — requiring protections for vulnerable students in Kentucky schools.

Our children deserve the same protections as every other child — and arguably more, because many cannot speak for themselves.

This is bigger than one child. Bigger than one classroom. Bigger than one school.

This is about protecting our most vulnerable children.

To every parent of a child with autism, a disability, communication challenges, behavioral support needs, or who simply understands what it means to trust a school with your child’s safety:

Please sign. Please share. Please stand with us.

Because when children cannot always tell us what happened — we must make sure the truth can.

To Superintendent Brian Yearwood:
We are asking you to listen to families. Listen to educators. Listen to the disability community. Listen to the parents who have spent years begging for peace of mind.

Do not wait for another tragedy.

Protect our children now.

Sign and share today.

#JusticeForSamaj

#ProtectEveryVoice

#VoicesForTheVoiceless