Some of the changes will be visible. Others will be elements of the curriculum. Many of the changes stem from the January arrest of /*Neng Yang*/, the former /*Freedom Elementary School*/ second grade teacher.
The district is addressing some of the concerns of parents at this school after Yang's arrest. Kids will get trained to protect themselves, and some classrooms will get new windows so nothing happens in secret.
Closed doors and shaded windows block the view inside this Gettysburg Elementary school classroom. A similar setup exists a couple miles away at Freedom Elementary, where a second grade teacher allegedly molested one of his students behind closed classroom doors. After that incident, Clovis Unified is planning to make doors look more like this one at another school.
"We don't believe that was in any way contributive to what happened earlier this year, but we know that our community wants us to be transparent," said Clovis Unified spokesperson Kelly Avants. "We want to be transparent."
The district is also introducing a new protection plan for its kindergarten through sixth grade students, endorsed by a mother who knows how important it can be.
Erin Runnion's daughter Samantha was abducted and murdered ten years ago. In her mission to keep other kids safe, she's promoting the Rad Kids personal safety program.
Next year, Clovis Unified is set to be the first district to roll it out in all its schools. A classroom element lets kids discuss what abuse looks like, and the importance of reporting it -- but in language kids can relate to.
"That's the one thing that parents go, 'You're going to freak my kid out. You're going to scare them,'" said Clovis police Sgt.Matt McFadden. "And working with Erin, that's one of her big goals is not to scare the children."
There's also a physical element that qualifies as a PE class. Kids learn some boxing and karate moves that could help them get away from someone crossing the boundaries.
"You know, you look at a little tiny kid and a very big adult," McFadden said. "Are they going to be able to do a little karate sweep and knock him off his feet? You know, no. But they're going to be able to distract and get attention."
The new doors could be built next year if measure a passes in June.
Meanwhile, Neng Yang is due back in court next month.
