Mom takes to social media after sex offender goes on Goddard school field trip

Amanda White, a Goddard City Council member with three school-age children, caused a social media stir when she posted a video expressing her disappointment in Goddard Public Schools’ response after finding out it had unknowingly let a registered sex offender serve as a chaperone on a school field trip.

No incidents were reported on the trip, according to a statement issued by the school district Wednesday.

Still, White’s frustration intensified when she found out that the same person had signed up to help during the Clark Davidson Elementary School field day.

When she brought this to the school district’s attention the day before the field day, the school district’s response was not to let any parents participate.

“...Instead of just saying you can’t be on school grounds if you’re a registered sex offender, no parents are allowed to participate,” White said in her video, which was posted May 12 and had been shared 460 times within the first 48 hours. She said the response was unfair to parents who had taken time off work to be with their kids during this special event.

In that same video, White also seemed to hold out hope that something positive could come out of this.

She said she is supposed to meet with school officials on June 2, adding: “I am hopeful that they will all come to the table ready to put a policy in place to keep our children safe before next year.”

When reached by email on Thursday afternoon, school officials did not make any comments beyond their original statement.

In that statement, the school district said: “We take the safety and well-being of every student in our care with the utmost seriousness. In response to this situation, the district will review its current volunteer procedures and investigate additional safety measures and safeguards related to volunteer participation.”

The school district also said that community members who raise safety concerns play an important role in helping provide a safe learning environment for all students. And district officials encourage anyone with information relevant to student safety to contact them.

“The safety of our students remains our highest priority, and we are committed to continually reviewing and strengthening our practices to support a safe learning environment,” school officials said.