District leaders said they are reviewing what went wrong while taking steps to improve safety moving forward.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nearly a week after a deadly shooting at Natomas High School, frustration and fear are replacing the initial shock, as parents demand answers and school leaders face pressure to act.
At a Wednesday school board meeting, the first since the shooting, district leaders acknowledged the community’s pain while outlining steps they say are already underway.
For some parents, the focus is immediate safety.
“This is not the first time this has happened since my daughter has been at that school. There has been other occurrence of guns on campus,” said Timothy Allen, a Natomas High School parent.
Allen said his daughter is struggling to return to class after the shooting and is calling for changes, including more on-campus security.
“I want to see more security, see them have officers on campus or some sort of armed guards on campus. I like to see metal detectors on campus. They had metal detectors when I was in high school, I don’t understand why they are not using it now,” Allen said.
That urgency carried into the board meeting, where trustees said they are working toward solutions.
“We are working and we are going to figure this out,” said Ericka Harden, Natomas Unified trustee for Area 2.
“If we all commit to being present in the life of at least one young person, I think that we can, address a piece of a larger issue,” said Noel Mora, Natomas Unified trustee for Area 1.
District leaders said they are reviewing what went wrong while taking steps to improve safety moving forward.
“We are also undergoing a thorough review of safety protocols and procedures as part of our commitment to making the safety and well being of every student and staff member our top priority,” said Dr. Robyn Castillo, superintendent of Natomas Unified School District.
In a statement, the district said it continues to reevaluate and strengthen safety measures and has formally requested the City of Sacramento reinstate its contract for school resource officers.
The request comes months after those officers were removed from campuses in October due to a budget shortage.
City officials confirmed they have received the request and are reviewing it.
“The loss of life is heartbreaking, and any loss of life in our community is deeply felt,” the City Manager’s Office said in a statement. “The City and Police Department are committed to working closely with our partners to evaluate this request, understand current need and determine the most responsible path forward.”
While some are calling for increased security, others say the solution must go deeper.
“A young man lost his life and the simple fact that a young man believed that he needed to carry a gun to protect himself that speaks volume for what our society is looking at,” said Berry Accius, founder of Voice of the Youth.
Accius said the focus should also include prevention and addressing underlying issues like trauma and access to guns.
“It’s not about having more security, it’s us trying to deal with the trauma that our young people are dealing with. Let’s figuring out ways to stop social media bullying,” Accius said.
As the district, city, and community weigh next steps, families say the focus now is ensuring students feel safe returning to campus.
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