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Contact: Allison Phipps, engagejeffco@gmail.com

Engage Jeffco Stands with Board Members’ Call for Honest Conversation About Safety and Shared Responsibility

Parents say Kenworthy’s remarks highlight the shared work needed to keep all students safe and supported.

ARVADA, CO October 21, 2025 – Our community continues to grieve in the wake of the tragic shooting in Evergreen, a pain that was deeply evident during the October 17th school board meeting. Our hearts are with the students, educators, families, and neighbors who are coping with fear, loss, and the long journey of healing. Safety is the foundation of a high-quality education, and every student deserves to learn in an environment where they feel secure, supported, and cared for.

Following the tragedy, Engage Jeffco submitted a letter to the Board of Education and the superintendent, requesting a response that is equitable, transparent, accountable, and inclusive of community voices. When tragedy strikes, we must work together to support the impacted and stand alongside those most affected. Healing after trauma requires clear coordination, empathy, and care. We are grateful for the ongoing efforts of the board and the district to make this a reality.

We are, however, concerned by recent media coverage suggesting broad outrage at remarks made by a Board Member at the October 17th meeting. During her comments, Director Kenworthy said that “safety is a privilege.” She acknowledged that this phrase can sound unsettling. Heard in full, though, her remarks offered an important and compassionate truth: in today’s world, safety cannot be guaranteed, and the feeling of safety is not experienced the same in all communities. Her intent was not to diminish the importance of safety or the responsibility of our district, but to name some of the different factors that shape how families experience it and to call for a more honest, collective response.

Engage Jeffco believes that her comments added nuance and honesty to a complex issue. Pretending that safety can be fully guaranteed does not make our students safer. Recognizing that different groups experience safety precautions differently helps us ensure that our responses serve all of our students to the best of our ability. School safety is a community responsibility. Schools cannot fix this alone. 

Additionally, true safety begins with relationships. Students who feel seen, supported, and connected to caring adults and peers are far less likely to engage in or experience violence. Building strong, trusting relationships between students, staff, and families is one of the most effective forms of prevention we have. When educators have the time and support to know their students, when peers look out for one another, and when families and community partners are engaged in that network of care, we can identify and address problems long before they escalate. Violence prevention starts with belonging, and belonging grows through consistent, compassionate human connection. 

Understanding the unique needs of each person and community is essential to creating safety and belonging. That is what Director Kenworthy’s comments were ultimately about, because safety is not something that we can take for granted. It is something we, as a community, must build and continue to strengthen over time.

Protecting our children requires partnership across families, educators, district leaders, and policymakers. That partnership must include:

• Legislation that keeps guns out of the hands of individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others.
• Safe firearm storage at home and community education to prevent unauthorized access.
• Evidence-based, root-cause violence prevention strategies identified with expert community partners and measurable outcomes.
• Comprehensive mental health supports that reach students and staff before crises occur.
• Clear communication and coordination between schools, the district, and families during and after emergencies.
• Equity and care in how supports and resources are distributed across communities and how actions can impact communities differently.

Engage Jeffco stands ready to work with the district and the broader community to strengthen communication, prevention, and response systems. We believe everyone, but especially our board members and district leadership, must be having these nuanced discussions so we can make the right decisions for all students. Safety may not be something we can guarantee, but it is something we can work toward together.

We call on all members of the Jeffco community to move forward not with outrage, but with empathy, partnership, and resolve. Our children deserve a world where they can be safe, but achieving this requires shared understanding and responsibility.