In this hard-hitting episode of Screen Guardians, Katie and Kevin uncover a deeply disturbing incident that took place at an elementary school dance in the Blue Valley School District, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive school safety policy.

convicted sex offender—released after serving 8 years for possession of child sexual abuse material—was allowed to attend a school event with zero warning to parents. He was even seen filming students at the event.

Kevin, a child crimes investigator, breaks down the real risks, the statistics behind offender behavior, and why this scenario poses more danger than schools—or even the legal system—may admit.

It’s essential for schools to implement a strong school safety policy to protect students and ensure safe environments during events like dances.

We discuss:

  • Why the school’s current safety policies fall short
  • What the new policy says—and why it’s still not enough
  • What parents can do right now to advocate for safer schools
  • How to check sex offender registries and ask the right questions before school events

If you think this couldn’t happen at your school—think again. This episode is a must-listen for any parent, teacher, or community leader serious about keeping kids safe.

Outraged parents. Unsafe policy.

A registered offender filming kids at school. Read the disturbing truth they didn’t want you to know.

Welcome back to Screen Guardians, the podcast where we, Katie and Kevin, focus on empowering families, schools, and communities with the knowledge needed to keep children safe—in both digital and physical spaces.

It’s been a minute since Kevin and I sat down to record together, but today’s episode brings us together around a serious and sobering topic—an incident that hit close to home and underscores how urgent it is to advocate for child safety in schools.

🚨 The Story That Sparked This Episode

In February of 2025, a deeply disturbing event occurred at an elementary school in the Blue Valley School District in Kansas. A school dance, typically filled with innocent fun and music, was marred when a registered sex offender, convicted for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), was granted permission to attend.

This individual reportedly filmed students at the event and had previously served eight years in prison following his conviction—an unusually long sentence that suggests the content he possessed was extremely egregious.

Parents in attendance recognized him, notified school officials, and he eventually left when asked. But the damage was done—the community had already been placed at risk.

Read the full story on Fox 4 News Here.

🔍 Why This Matters

What rattled us most was this simple truth: no laws were broken, yet every sense of safety was violated. The school district responded with, “He has a functional parenting relationship with a student and no laws were broken.” That, in itself, is a devastatingly low bar for child protection.

The Statistics Speak for Themselves

Kevin pulled from his background in forensic psychology and law enforcement to share an alarming statistic:

Between 50–85% of offenders convicted of CSAM possession either have or will engage in physical abuse against a child.

Possession of this content is a strong predictor of future abuse. It is not a “harmless” or “victimless” crime. It shows intentinterest, and a serious risk.

🚫 What Went Wrong?

1. Permission Was Granted

The offender requested permission to attend, and despite his past, was approved without community knowledge.

2. No Parent Notification

The largest breach of trust? Parents were not informed of his presence. They were not given the opportunity to pull their children from the dance, plan differently, or even be more vigilant.

3. Failure to Do Due Diligence

Given the nature of the offender’s conviction (CSAM), basic research into offender statistics should have triggered far more caution. According to Kevin, “Hope is not a safety strategy.”

🛑 Why This Decision Was So Dangerous

This wasn’t just someone with a few questionable photos. The eight-year sentence implies:

  • A high volume of CSAM
  • Graphic/explicit content
  • Likely very young victims

Let that sink in. This man had demonstrated, through his conviction, a sexual interest in children of the same age attending the dance.

And yet, he was allowed to attend, in a dark, low-supervision, high-energy environment—a literal playground for a predator.

📜 The School’s New Policy (And Why It’s Still Not Enough)

After backlash, the Blue Valley School District revised its visitor policy. Here’s the highlight:

“No person on the Kansas Public Offender Registry shall attend a school-sponsored event without advanced written permission from the superintendent and director of safety & security.”

While this is a step in the right direction, the policy allows for exceptions in “extraordinary life circumstances”—a vague clause leaving power in the hands of two individuals without accountability or required transparency.

What’s Still Missing:

  • Parental notification requirement
  • Transparent review process
  • Clear restrictions if attendance is permitted
  • Differentiation between types of offenses (e.g. non-violent drug offenses vs. sex crimes against children)

🧭 What Can Parents Do?

You might be wondering, How do I protect my own child if something like this could happen? Here are Kevin’s and Katie’s recommendations:

✅ Educate Yourself

📞 Contact Your School

  • Before school events, ask: “Will any registered sex offenders be attending this event?”
  • Bring this incident to the attention of your school administrators, PTA, and school board.

👥 Organize a Parent Coalition

  • Like Katie said, “Individual voices are powerful, but collective voices are louder.”
  • Band together with other parents to pressure your district to adopt transparent, non-negotiable policies.

🗣 Make Your Voice Heard

  • Push local and state officials for stronger protections.
  • Attend school board meetings.
  • Demand parental notification be a policy requirement, not an option.

🧠 Final Thoughts

We want to be clear: this offender may have changed. He may be complying with legal responsibilities and doing the work. But child safety must always come before redemption narratives.

As Kevin said:

“We don’t get the luxury of hoping everything will go well. Our job is to eliminate risk, not gamble with it.”

📣 Join the Conversation: School Safety Policy

We’re here to empower and inform, and we’d love to hear from you. If you have:

  • Questions
  • Thoughts on this topic
  • Other relevant cases or concerns

👉 Leave a comment or message us. Let’s keep this conversation going.

And please, share this episode with anyone in your community. Awareness is where action begins.

🎙 Stay safe, stay vigilant, and as always—keep protecting your screens and your kids.

— Katie & Kevin
Screen Guardians Podcast

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