Parents meet with Cherry Creek Schools after kidnapping attempt

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Concerned parents met with school district leaders again Thursday morning about how they handled the attempted kidnapping at Black Forest Hills Elementary last month.

Police arrested a man with a record of sexual offenses after they say he walked onto school grounds and lunged at a child. Parents still want answers from Cherry Creek Schools.

The meeting came after the school made an administrative change by replacing the principal . Parents who spoke with FOX31 said while they thought they were getting closer to a resolution, the meeting Thursday morning left them discouraged.

An internal investigation into the attempted kidnapping, which was caught on surveillance video, is wrapping up. Parents are hoping for full transparency.

“We had some really clear action items that we discussed during our previous meeting with administration — Superintendent Chris Smith and the rest of leadership,” said Dante White, whose child encountered the suspect. “We were told there were going to be some action items that followed it.”

Parents push for safety changes at Aurora elementary school

Among the action items requested were increased safety training, new surveillance equipment and more fencing around the school. Police say 33-year-old Solomon Galligan, identified as a registered sex offender , walked onto school property and approached students.

“We were told by the police department that the fencing wouldn’t be a good idea because it might create an element where the children are then trapped should somebody get in,” White said. “I see plenty of schools with fencing, so that’s really kind of a fallacy. That’s a really simple, quick fix with surveillance equipment that can geofence those areas. So if someone does cross the area, you become immediately aware.”

Parents also want to know if the remaining personnel involved that day will be terminated. That question was not answered on Thursday morning.

“We’re asking for accountability. They want to be held accountable, but they can’t tell us what they are going to do. That doesn’t make any sense,” White said. “We were excited to hear the principal was let go, but now we can’t figure out if the rest of the personnel is going to be let go. The kind of statement they gave us is that it’s a part of their personnel file and they can’t let us know that, but they let us know the principal is going to be let go — why not the rest of district leadership? They’ve all taken blame that they didn’t do the right thing here, and from what we can see, no action is being taken.”

He told FOX31 that his fifth-grade son, who encountered the suspect, is still shaken about the situation.

“He’s doing a little bit better. There’s obviously still some emotional impact there,” White said. “We’re working through that with therapy trying to rebuild his confidence and ensure him that the world is a safe place. We all know it’s not perfect, but all we can do is give the tools to move forward, right, and give the training to make sure they feel secure should anything else happen.”

Black Forest Hills principal sends letter to community

Cherry Creek Schools leaders sent FOX31 the letter they sent to parents on Sunday.

I want to introduce myself – I am Chuck Puga and I will be serving as acting principal starting today and through the end of the school year. I’m honored to join the team and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

I recognize the last few weeks have been challenging. In the final three weeks of school, I’m hopeful we can come together as a community to support one another and celebrate the year overall.

I want to reiterate our commitment to the safety of all students here at Black Forest Hills. I’d like to again share some of the changes that have been made in response to feedback from parents, students, and staff:

• Midge Eidson will be serving as acting assistant principal starting today through the end of the school year. Ms. Eidson is a former elementary principal in CCSD with many years of experience.
• There will be increased presence of district security coordinators at the school.
• The Aurora Police Department and the Cherry Creek School District security team will be conducting additional patrols in the area throughout the remainder of the school year.
• All Black Forest Hills staff have reviewed security protocols at the school, including Hold, Secure and Lockdown status.
• The supervision structure and perimeter of the playground has been adjusted to ensure greater visibility of students when they are outside.
• Watchdog Dads/Moms has been reinstated so that parents and guardians can help play a role in keeping our school safe.
• Mental health resources continue to be available for students and staff as well as our in-school social worker, school psychologist, and nurse to support students’ wellbeing.
• Additional security measures at the district level have been reinforced, which were outlined in a communication to families on Friday.

The students of Black Forest Hills have grown academically and personally. These accomplishments deserve to be celebrated and will be the focus for the remainder of the year. Thank you in advance for your partnership in making the next three weeks a positive experience for our students and our community.

Thank you,

Chuck Puga

Cherry Creek Schools

Parents who spoke with FOX31 say more needs to be done.

“We got a bond issue coming up in November, so that’s another thing the community can get involved with as well. Making sure we get the proper funding and allocated where we need it,” White said.

Cherry Creek Schools board meeting set for Monday

White also said there will be a school board meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. at Thunder Ridge.

“Take action Monday … if you want to learn more and if you want to be part of the solution definitely,” he said.

Community members are invited to speak during the time specified for public comment. Speakers must complete the public comment form and submit it electronically before noon on the day of the meeting.

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