KENOSHA — As classes started this week, parents are reacting to a new grooming policy added by the district following grooming allegations that led to a middle school teacher being criminally charged.
At a recent Kenosha Unified School District meeting, the new policy states that "no staff member may engage in grooming behaviors with any student," along with extensive examples of grooming conduct.
"I have no faith it's gonna get better in KUSD," Brittany Lawton said.
This move comes after a local KUSD teacher was fired last May for having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
"It's part of the move that we want to see, but there's so much more that needs to be done besides just a grooming policy," Brittany said.
Brittany, a Kenosha native, says that as a parent, she is doing her best to protect her kids.
Watch: Parents respond to grooming policy after teacher's arrest
But she believes it’s the school’s responsibility to make their buildings a safe place.
"When I'm supposed to be trusting a school for almost eight hours a day with my child's well-being, there comes a point where that part is on you to not let these people work at our schools in the first place," she said.
Brittany says she and other parents are calling for updates to hiring policies, as well as more education about appropriate conduct for teachers, parents, students, and staff.
"It's not good enough to only have the grooming policy. I think it's a step in the right direction, but it's a very small step."
Another important step is also maintaining good communication between students and their parents.
"No matter what they can always talk to me and just making sure that I check in with them to make sure everything's okay," Kayla, a KUSD parent said.
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