A San Diego Grand Jury report is raising concerns over the safety of students in the new downtown school library.
The report states city leaders and San Diego Unified school officials failed to do their homework on how they’ll protect students from child predators and transients who are visiting the library.
“The library is open to public use, so that allows anyone in there," explained grand jury foreman Richard Carlson, "and there are no provisions to any type of security measures in there. You know, you could have students co-mingling with anybody who happens to be there," he added.
Carlson said the jury was also concerned over where students will park and eat their lunch. He said only six parking spots have been designated for the school, and 30 more spots will be available for $170 per month.
"San Diego Unified handed over $20 million for a 40 year lease in a rush to begin construction," said Carlson. “There really was no thought of what kind of school was going to be there, or about the facility. I mean, it’s kind of difficult, I would think, to get 400 students up and down in an elevator on the 6th and 7th floors, and especially under emergency procedures.”
San Diego Unified School District spokesman Bernie Rhinerson said they’ll review the report and respond within the required 90 days.
The project is scheduled to be completed in July 2013.
