Parents Angry Over Homeless OC Using Elementary School Bathrooms

Homeless people live at a park next door to the school. A partial fence is there, but parents say the fence is not enough to keep strangers out.

Parents are outraged as they claim their children could get raped or injured due to homeless people using bathrooms at an Orange County elementary school.

At a Fullerton School District board meeting Tuesday, people complained the problem has been going on at Pacific Drive Elementary School for years, with vagrants showering in what should be a secure environment for youngsters during school hours.

Former student Rosario Diaz, now 16, said she was a victim of an assault at the school six years ago.

"That's the scariest thing I've had (happen) in my life. I was shocked I was just a 4th grader," Diaz said. "The guy grabs me by the hand, and I scream help, help."

Diaz said it was promised at the time that a fence would be installed, and is unhappy it has yet to be built.

"It was six years ago when they told me they were going to put this fence, they promised, and what happened? The fences aren't there. I don't see them," Diaz said.

Homeless people live at a park next door to the school. A partial fence is there, but parents say the fence is not enough to keep strangers out. 

District Superintendent Bob Pletka admitted several incidents occurred at the beginning of the school year, and said measures were being taken to improve safety, including more police patrols, and install a partial gate at the school.

But parent David Sosa is concerned about what will happen to students at the school if a more extensive barrier is not installed.

"If they don't build a full fence one of the kids is going to end up getting injured, or they can get raped … hurt or kidnapped," Sosa said.

Pletka said the district is in the process of putting up a fence around the bathroom area, and claimed a fence cannot be put around the school for safety reasons, as it would create a barrier that would impede an escape route in an emergency.

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