The Richmond Community Schools are one of two Wayne County districts making a change. Administrators said registered sex offenders cannot step foot on school grounds without someone in the district giving their okay.
Parent Lisa Kinyon said, "Our kids are sometimes at school more than they are at home, so you have to trust that they are safe there and in good hands and unfortunately, there are a lot of people around kids for the wrong reasons."
Parents gave a thumbs up to the Indiana districts for avoiding potential problems. Richmond and the Nettle Creek District recently changed their standards prohibiting sex offenders from entering school property without approval from the superintendent.
The move is in response to an incident last year at Hagerstown Elementary School when Murvel Tutterow, a registered sex offender, served ice cream to students at the school.
Tutterow said he was serving ice cream to his niece's class. Parents were furious that he was allowed inside the school and the district's policies did not stop that until now.
Richmond followed Nettle Creek and changed their policy too.
Barbara Bergdoll of Richmond Community Schools said, "Sometimes before situations arise, it's nice to have something in writing so we can have something to refer to. l "You just can't be too careful who is around your kids these days and we, as parents, have the right to know," said Lisa Kinyon.
Administrators said many districts in Indiana and Ohio do not have policies to keep sex offenders from stepping on school grounds partially because it is illegal. It is only illegal for sex offenders to live within one thousand feet of a school.