A parent and registered sex offender is suing the Grossmont Union School District because he says he is not allowed on campus to take part in his child's education.
The father told the district he is a registered sex offender, but the district would not give him the written permission he needs to go on campus, denying him what he and his lawyer, Janice Bellucci, say is his right to take part in his child's education.
According to the civil suit, filed Friday, the principal suggested the father drop off and pick up his child at a shopping center separated from the school. He can pick up his child at school for disciplinary reasons and for medical or family emergencies, the suit alleges.
A spokesperson from the district said no one was available to comment on the suit Tuesday.
The father denied an on-camera interview with NBC 7 San Diego, but spoke by phone about the lawsuit.
"There are monitors. There are teachers and other staff everywhere on campus and at events," the father said. "I completely understand vetting people who have direct and unsupervised contact with children. I don't see the risk of picking up my child on campus or meeting with the child's teacher. There are ways parents can be involved on a volunteer basis that does not involve contact with students."
The suit does not name the school in question.
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Bellucci says the district is citing one law that says a registered sex offender is not supposed to go on campus without a lawful purpose and without written permission.
Bellucci says her client does have a lawful purpose -- to take part in his child's education.
In not giving him written permission, the father's lawyer says the district is ignoring other laws and expert recommendations. She says school officials can not categorically deny a sex offender's access to school grounds.
The father says when his child was younger, other school districts did give him written permission to go on campus to pick up and drop off his child or to attend parent-teacher conferences. In addition, he said he would like to volunteer, though he understands chaperoning a bus trip would not be appropriate.
Bellucci, who filed this civil suit against Grossmont Union, is also involved in another suit filed on behalf of all sex offenders against the Fontana School District, east of Los Angeles.
