Cherry Creek Schools parents call for accountability after attempted kidnapping
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Three weeks after an attempted kidnapping at an Aurora elementary school, Cherry Creek Schools hosted a school board meeting where parents addressed the incident during public comment.
Parents of Black Forest Hills Elementary School students remain upset, with questions lingering about the school’s response to the incident and what’s being done to prevent something similar from happening again.
“We got lucky,” one parent said during the meeting’s public comment section. “But we have got to use it as a learning moment and address all the issues.”
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Eight parents took to the podium on Monday night, each addressing their concerns with the school’s response to the attempted kidnapping. Superintendent Chris Smith began the meeting by briefly touching on the incident.
“We are always looking for ways to improve our practice,” Smith said. “We continue to collaborate with school staff to ensure a successful end of the school year for our students at Black Forest Hills.”
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That comes after a memo sent to parents on Monday reiterated steps taken to reinforce security, like additional security and police patrols in the area through the end of this school year. The district also replaced Black Forest Hills Principal Amanda Replogle earlier this month. One parent said they want accountability from the district level as well.
“When crisis strikes again, which inevitably it will at some level, I need to know that district officials, the protocols and the people put in place will act swiftly and decisively to keep our kids safe,” the parent said.
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Another parent shared their child’s experience that day, calling for a more thorough review of the incident.
“My daughter was in the immediate vicinity of this terrifying event and has suffered trauma that we cannot fully comprehend,” the parent said. “I have suffered trauma knowing that I could not protect her and the people who were entrusted to protect her failed their responsibilities.”
The district has completed an internal review of the incident, but parents want an external review done as well.
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