Former Jeffco Schools Safety Leader Speaks Out! STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS SAFETY RISKS ALLOWED TO RETURN TO SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY

In 2018, the CO Atty Gen wrote a detailed response to FERPA concerns allowing the share of information across agency lines. After Jeffco Schools Chief of Legal Julie Tolleson was hired, general law enforcement access to Jeffco's systems was removed and students identified as safety risks are allowed to return to schools immediately. A recent Jeffco safety leader wrote a statement and we sent it to district leadership. We have been hearing about these concerns for a few years. It's time to share them. Julie Tolleson must resign.

"Before Julie Tolleson became Chief Legal Counsel for Jeffco Public Schools in 2022, the district’s partnerships with agencies such as law enforcement, the courts, the District Attorney’s Office, and probation were widely regarded as a model for other school districts. Student safety was treated as the district’s highest priority, and timely information sharing was considered essential to effective threat management coordination with law enforcement regarding students facing criminal charges.

After Ms. Tolleson assumed the role, several significant changes were implemented. Law enforcement personnel were no longer permitted direct access to Campus, disciplinary practices shifted, and some students who previously may have been identified as safety threats were allowed to return to school immediately. Critics of these changes argue that they conflict with the intent of the Claire Davis Act and weaken the district’s ability to respond proactively to potential threats.

Staff members raised repeated concerns about the impact these policy changes could have on student and staff safety. In response, Ms. Tolleson maintained that sharing certain information could violate FERPA and infringe on student rights, even in cases involving serious safety concerns. As a result, many employees believe the district’s approach has moved too far away from balancing student privacy with the responsibility to protect students and staff. They argue that these decisions reflect an ideological approach that has undermined long-standing safety partnerships and reduced confidence in the district’s threat management practices."-Former Jeffco Schools Safety Leader