Speakers allege racism, question district response to alleged SRO misconduct

During public comment at the Aug. 21 meeting of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education, speakers raised allegations of systemic racism in schools and questioned whether district leadership has adequately responded to an investigation into an on-campus school resource officer.

Gloria Ciccarelli urged the board to treat racism on campus seriously and said complaints had been ignored. “Why do you all feign ignorance and confusion when it comes to the black community?” Ciccarelli asked, referencing reports she said students and parents had brought to school administrators.

Christy Hurst asked district leaders when they became aware that a district school resource officer and D.A.R.E. instructor was alleged to have engaged in “lewd acts and conduct with district children,” saying the district had been aware of the allegations since January and asking what the district had done to prevent recurrence and support affected families. Hurst said she was “horrified and sickened this has happened” and urged resources and counseling for exposed families.

The statements were made during the public-comment portion of the meeting; the board did not announce any new remedies or specific personnel actions in open session in response to these comments. The transcript records the allegations and requests for district follow-up but does not show the board or district staff offering immediate, public remedies or detailing steps taken since January.

Ending: Speakers demanded clearer, documented responses from district leadership. The meeting record shows the allegations were aired publicly; the transcript does not record a formal district response or a vote related to these claims during the session.