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Parent urges answers on special-education issues; district says intruder detection audit and action plan will be shared
Summary
A community organizer asked the Socorro ISD board for follow-up on special-education concerns and access to personal communication devices under federal and state rules; the district reported an intruder detection audit conducted by Region 19 and said a plan of action will be shared with trustees.
During the public comment period on Oct. 15, Alfredo Aguayo, a community organizer who identified himself as founder of Padres and Puerto Rico and a health coordinator, asked the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees for answers to parents’ questions about students with disabilities and disciplinary procedures.
Aguayo referenced Texas Education Code language during his remarks, saying, "section 11.0621 education code says this, let it be the court the board of trustees of a school district shall not... address any issues raised during the public comments period under Subdivision 2 during the same board meeting in which the issues were raised." He said parents of students with disabilities had met with district staff multiple times in the preceding months and that the board had not answered their questions. He also cited Section 37.082 and asked that the board consider possession of personal communication devices for special-education students when the device is necessary to implement an individualized education program or a similar plan.
Separately, district staff presented an intruder detection audit prepared by Region 19. Mr. Solis told trustees the audit "was conducted in the district by Region 19. Findings will be shared with the district's school safety and security committee and the board of trustees. A plan of action is in place and will be shared with the trustees during executive session." The board subsequently met in executive session; the district indicated the safety committee and trustees will receive the audit findings and the plan of action.
Aguayo told the board he had emailed trustees and had not received responses from several members; he asked to be part of conversations about special-education procedures and the district handbook. The board did not take action during open session on the issues raised in public comment. Aguayo’s presentation and the district’s reporting on the intruder detection audit were on the public record.
