Does Skyline school bear any responsibility?

[human]

I could guess that the doors were monitored, but as the children probably were to be in the classroom at 8:45, what is the point of the door monitoring?

Schools have to be built like our new ones are here, that there is one way in, and that is through the office.

Of course, that doesn't stop anyone who wants to walk out a door as they cannot be locked because of fire.

Then the cameras would come into play.

Our doors are such that there is a buzzer that has to be pushed that is too high for a student to reach.

Our schools are also built so that the common areas can be locked and not access the rest of the school.


So far that's the only thing that makes sense.

 

[kgeaux]

BBM So what would have happened if your child didn't make it to the classroom by 8:10 in time for attendance? What if you were there and thought your child was at the door of his classroom but he never made it inside? What if your teacher thought she heard you say you were going to a Doc appointment? And I know you said there were staff members monitoring the doors. Would they have stopped a parent from leaving if they said we're heading to a Doctor appointment? I'm just throwing out scenarios....

Reiterating though that I think Skyline bears some responsibility for the chaos of that morning and no policy to handle it.

If a policy of having a staff member positioned at exits would have been implemented, then that teacher would have known that Kyron left with his step-mom. LE would have been informed of this the moment they showed up at the school, and Terri would never have been able to convince LE that she'd left him on campus.

Knowing who Kyron left with would have focused the investigation immediately upon that person, and Kyron would probably have been recovered within hours, IMO.

Again, this particular security measure might not have saved Kyron from whatever has occurred, but it would have done much to absolve the school, and shortened the investigation by months.

 

[cluciano63]

If someone was posted at the door of the school, it is unlikely Kyron would have been abducted.

 

[Sherazhad]

I guess this could be the motive for the crime-suing the school district. However, I see no reason to disbelieve the teacher who said that Terri told her Kyron had a doctors appointment. You can put in place any security measures you likem, but human errors will occur. Parents make mistakes with their kids & most only have a few, a teacher has over 20 kids to supervise! As a teacher it's happened 2 me, I've called the register & marked someone in school because another kid answered for them. This can create huge trouble if there is a fire bell & we arer looking for a missing child who's not in school. It's sad, but sometimes it takes something to happen to bring in greater security. I'm British & remember the tragedy of Dunblane where a gunman massacred many 5 year old children in a primary school. The government ensured much greater security in schools after that. However, the nature of a school is that it can't become a fortress, on special events, like a science fair it has to be welcoming & there will be unfamiliar adults. It's difficult for schools to strike the right balance,

 

[xin]

Back to question: No
The school has no legal responsibility if one of the people on the designated pick-up form (or if a permitted traditional driver) removes the child. Not random. School has other things to do with their very little money.

I don't think liability can be proven and it's INSANELY TOUGH to win lawsuits against school districts, not to mention the cost. Been there, done that.

Have any of you ever seen a fire drill at a high school? Start there.
xo

 

[xin]

Would the teacher be in error for not taking attendance at the 8:45 bell when school is scheduled to begin?

Kyron's regular classroom studies were delayed until 10:00 so they could attend the science fair, however the scheduled start for the school day on June 4th was 8:45.

Maybe the teacher would have made an error and that's not against the law. They just go back and correct the paperwork.

This school's biggest danger was Terri Horman as it turns out.

IMO

 

[KeenEyes]

Sherazhad

 

[gliving]

Dear Skyline School Community and Neighbors:

Many of you are aware that on May 2, 2010, more than 125 volunteers from Sunset Presbyterian spent the day at Skyline School doing inside and outside projects. With the help of several Skyline parents, students and neighbors the amount of work that was done that day was truly amazing. In a continuing effort to support our school and complete the work started on May 2nd, Sunset Presbyterian volunteers will be returning on Sunday, August 29th for “Skyline Service Day”. Here are some of the projects that we will be doing:

* Finish painting exterior metal handrails.
* Finish painting trim in two classrooms.
* Paint one wall in the library.
* Clean out and reorganize “volunteer” room and “locker rooms” in basement of school.
* Landscaping around the school.
* Track maintenance

This will be our 10th and final year as Skyline parents and we are thrilled to partner with Sunset Presbyterian church for Skyline Service Day. This has been a difficult last few months for our Skyline staff and families, and we want to make sure that our school looks especially great when our kids return to class in September. As the project leaders we are seeking additional volunteers for the day from the Skyline community. In addition, we are looking for donations of water and snacks that we can provide to the volunteers during the day. If you are unable to volunteer we are also seeking monetary donations to help fund the purchase of supplies (paint, equipment, bark dust, etc.) needed for the day.

If you can help out in any capacity please contact us at maggieschweinfurth@comcast.net. Thanks so much!

Maggie and Bill Schweinfurth

http://srnpdx.org/current_newsline

 

[skylineneighbor]

Intel, ...
Why haven't they stepped up to the plate yet...do they actually have this type of equiptment? Pfff, what does it matter...with their connections & clients, I bet they could have a whole state of the art system installed in days and at a nice write off for them as well...how many of their employees go to Skyline? ...


School is about to start...hey Intel, give these children & parents some peace of mind huh? Be a sport!

The school had offers for camera systems in June from several businesses. That was announced in the parent briefing / media instruction.

To be honest, I don't know where they are waiting for! Is PPS holding them back? I did not care much at first, but now all floor plans are discussed in detail online, and so is every possible route.

 

[T-Rex]

The teacher has a motive to overstate her confusion about the doctor's appointment. She is blameless...to the extent that Terri is to blame.

 

[loves2bmom]

The school had offers for camera systems in June from several businesses. That was announced in the parent briefing / media instruction.

To be honest, I don't know where they are waiting for! Is PPS holding them back? I did not care much at first, but now all floor plans are discussed in detail online, and so is every possible route.

I can imagine that would be unsettling, plus the inevitable cameras aimed at your school on the first day back. I feel for you! But maybe that means security will be super tight and thus safer.

Hope they took the offers for security cameras and they will be installed soon.

Again, I'd like to personally thank you for your insight and posts.

 

[matou]

Dear Skyline School Community and Neighbors:

Many of you are aware that on May 2, 2010, more than 125 volunteers from Sunset Presbyterian spent the day at Skyline School doing inside and outside projects. With the help of several Skyline parents, students and neighbors the amount of work that was done that day was truly amazing. In a continuing effort to support our school and complete the work started on May 2nd, Sunset Presbyterian volunteers will be returning on Sunday, August 29th for “Skyline Service Day”. Here are some of the projects that we will be doing:

* Finish painting exterior metal handrails.
* Finish painting trim in two classrooms.
* Paint one wall in the library.
* Clean out and reorganize “volunteer” room and “locker rooms” in basement of school.
* Landscaping around the school.
* Track maintenance

This will be our 10th and final year as Skyline parents and we are thrilled to partner with Sunset Presbyterian church for Skyline Service Day. This has been a difficult last few months for our Skyline staff and families, and we want to make sure that our school looks especially great when our kids return to class in September. As the project leaders we are seeking additional volunteers for the day from the Skyline community. In addition, we are looking for donations of water and snacks that we can provide to the volunteers during the day. If you are unable to volunteer we are also seeking monetary donations to help fund the purchase of supplies (paint, equipment, bark dust, etc.) needed for the day.

If you can help out in any capacity please contact us at maggieschweinfurth@comcast.net. Thanks so much!

Maggie and Bill Schweinfurth

http://srnpdx.org/current_newsline

WOW! Thanks for finding this! This group has been doing this for 10 years. I wonder if there are people/volunteers who know the school's nooks and crannies inside and out from doing this work? I know I'm thinking dirty but I hope this has been checked out. Everyone who volunteered should be questioned about June 4th, since the school agenda may have been posted with dates such as the science fair. JMO

 

[T-Rex]

The school has really been protected from public discussion by LE. I'm curious if there are any personal connections.

 

[STEADFAST]

If Skyline had a strict sign-out system, instead of allowing people to casually take their children out of school (never heard of being able to remove your child from school by just talking to the teacher), and checked attendance against the sign-out sheet, things might be different. At least, no matter who took Kyron, the school would have known of Kyron's disappearance at 10 a.m. instead of 3:45 p.m., and Kyron would have had a better chance at being rescued.

 

[RubyRed]

If Skyline had a strict sign-out system, instead of allowing people to casually take their children out of school (never heard of being able to remove your child from school by just talking to the teacher), and checked attendance against the sign-out sheet, things might be different. At least, no matter who took Kyron, the school would have known of Kyron's disappearance at 10 a.m. instead of 3:45 p.m., and Kyron would have had a better chance at being rescued.

I totally agree.

 

[gwenabob]

If Skyline had a strict sign-out system, instead of allowing people to casually take their children out of school (never heard of being able to remove your child from school by just talking to the teacher), and checked attendance against the sign-out sheet, things might be different. At least, no matter who took Kyron, the school would have known of Kyron's disappearance at 10 a.m. instead of 3:45 p.m., and Kyron would have had a better chance at being rescued.

The school does have a sign out sheet. All Portland Public schools do. The teacher knew that. Terri knew that. So then what? Was the teacher supposed to escort Terri to the office to watch her sign him out? Wouldn't it be fair for the teacher to assume Terri would stop at the office to sign him out per the school policy? Parents are not supposed to just take their kid and walk out the door. I guess I am just not sure how this part could have been any different. Anyone have any suggestions? Keep in mind that this school is about 80 years old, not a nice, new, modern school designed with security in mind. How could that school guarantee that no kid gets out of the school without being signed out through the office?

 

[eyes4crime]

The school does have a sign out sheet. All Portland Public schools do. The teacher knew that. Terri knew that. So then what? Was the teacher supposed to escort Terri to the office to watch her sign him out? Wouldn't it be fair for the teacher to assume Terri would stop at the office to sign him out per the school policy? Parents are not supposed to just take their kid and walk out the door. I guess I am just not sure how this part could have been any different. Anyone have any suggestions? Keep in mind that this school is about 80 years old, not a nice, new, modern school designed with security in mind. How could that school guarantee that no kid gets out of the school without being signed out through the office?

Do Portland public school have ANY policy that prevents children from walking out their doors for a day of entertainment or to meet a parent in a custodial battle, or to meet a person met on-line? If they do, why isn't it in place? moo

 

[liz b.]

This may be totally inappropriate, but something is kinda bugging me...

Intel, a technical/computer/software/hardware business is ding pretty well for itself, right?

I mean it's not like this business has been hit as hard as some others, ya?

And how much would you guestimate a security system in a measly little elementary school would cost?

Why haven't they stepped up to the plate yet...do they actually have this type of equiptment? Pfff, what does it matter...with their connections & clients, I bet they could have a whole state of the art system installed in days and at a nice write off for them as well...how many of their employees go to Skyline? What the heck are they waiting on? And while I'm at it...why haven't they forked over a nice donation to the reward fund?

Like I said, perhaps totally off topic, maybe even inappropriate, but I don't get it!!!

School is about to start...hey Intel, give these children & parents some peace of mind huh? Be a sport!

In my children's elementary school, the PTSA raised the money for the security cameras. The school backs onto a creek,which is deep in the winter months. We had silent auctions, pay to play softball games,car washes,pot luck suppers and so on ... It was so worth it... Our community has many IT people who work for a little company that Bill Gates started awhile back.... They chipped in too...

All JMO

 

[Jo in Calif]

The school does have a sign out sheet. All Portland Public schools do. The teacher knew that. Terri knew that. So then what? Was the teacher supposed to escort Terri to the office to watch her sign him out? Wouldn't it be fair for the teacher to assume Terri would stop at the office to sign him out per the school policy? Parents are not supposed to just take their kid and walk out the door. I guess I am just not sure how this part could have been any different. Anyone have any suggestions? Keep in mind that this school is about 80 years old, not a nice, new, modern school designed with security in mind. How could that school guarantee that no kid gets out of the school without being signed out through the office?

If terry did in fact take Kyron from the school, why would she have to sign him out, school hadn't started yet, it didn't officially start until 10:00. Kyron wasn't there for roll call. Why would the teacher have expected Terry to sign Kyron out if she thought Kyron was just there for the SF, and being brought to the Dr., Class hadn't started yet.

 

[cluciano63]

If this school did not phone parents right after taking attendance, which is seems they did not, then really, what is the question about why were they concerned or not concerned about Kyron? He was not there when they took it, so they marked him absent. If truth be known, the teacher may not have given it another thought until the afternoon when this all blew up into a nightmare.