AURORA, Colo. — The Cherry Creek School District announced a change in leadership at Black Forest Hills Elementary School after a man was captured on video lunging toward a student during recess on school grounds.
“At this point in our investigation, we have decided to make an administrative change at Black Forest Hills and have appointed an acting principal to serve in the final month. We are making this change as part of our commitment to ensure a safe and positive end of the school year,” the district said in a statement.
An arrest affidavit from Aurora Police says children were playing outside around 2:20 p.m. on April 19 when Soloman Galligan walked up to them in a field. In a video released by the district children were seen running after the suspect, identified as Galligan, lunged toward them. While running, Galligan was seen trying to grab a child, then tripped over a blanket he was carrying.
Officers later arrested Galligan, a registered sex offender, at a nearby Walgreens. He's since been charged with kidnapping and child abuse.
Since the incident, parents have questioned the leadership at the school and their response. Previously, Principal Amanda Replogle admitted in a letter to families that it was a "clear misstep" not to place the school into "secure status," an action that would have brought all students inside while security investigated the situation.
"I, along with district leadership, own that mistake," she wrote in a letter on April 24.
On Friday, however, the district said it was time for change and shared that Replogle "is no longer serving as active principal at Black Forest Hills Elementary." It was not clear whether she resigned or was fired and the district declined to say whether she was still employed within the district.
The district also shared a letter sent home to families on Friday. It says Chuck Puga, the former principal of Smoky Hill High School and a well-respected, longtime administrator will serve as acting principal through the end of this school year.
He will be assisted by Midge Eidson, a former longtime elementary principal in CCSD, who will serve as assistant principal through the end of the year. Cyndi Burdick, also a former principal in CCSD who has been supporting Black Forest Hills as assistant principal since January, will also be at the school through the end of the year.
The district said they plan to name a new principal for Black Forest Hills for the 2024-25 school year and said they'll announce the new leader in the coming weeks.
The district also outlined changes taken to reinforce security at the southeast Aurora school. They include:
- District security has worked with Black Forest Hills staff to review all security protocols, including the district’s Standard Response Protocol and criteria for when to call a SECURE status.
- District security worked with paraprofessionals (TAs) to reconfigure supervision at recess to improve line of sight. Students will be kept closer to school and not allowed to be on the field near the fence and public sidewalk.
- There will be additional security and police patrols in the area through the end of this school year and increased presence of district security coordinators at the school.
- Adding administrative support for the school and working collaboratively to define the safety needs of the community.
- Prioritizing the needs of students through mental health resources and alternative options for indoor recess.
- There will be additional security at all outdoor end-of-year events at the school.
- The school has reinstated the Watchdog Dads/Moms group to provide additional support to the school community.
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