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Rialto parents, staff demand independent investigation after allegations and superintendent placed on leave
Summary
Dozens of parents, teachers and community groups urged the Rialto Unified School District board on Feb. 5 to order independent investigations and take immediate steps after allegations of staff misconduct and the administrative leave of Superintendent Steven Ávila prompted widespread public comment.
Dozens of parents, teachers and community members used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the Rialto Unified School District Board of Education on allegations of sexual misconduct involving current or former district employees and to demand independent investigations.
Speakers said the district’s handling of complaints has left staff and families fearful, and several asked the board to remove or keep on leave employees accused of wrongdoing while outside investigators review the allegations. The comments followed earlier closed-session items that referenced personnel matters and existing or anticipated litigation.
Why it matters: Speakers framed the accusations as a system failure with potential Title IX implications and urged urgent action to protect students, restore staff morale, and ensure public trust.
At the start of public comment, special-education teacher Sandra Gabousen described ongoing workplace retaliation and intimidation she said she and colleagues have experienced and said the district had not responded to complaints filed in November 2024. Teacher Marisa Solís also said a lack of communication and support from a school principal had created “constant stress, fear and anxiety” for staff.
Multiple parents and community leaders named two employees who remain district employees in their remarks and urged the board to commission independent investigators and auditors to review hiring, personnel and contracting practices. Michael Davis of the West Side Action Group said community members had reported that "African American staff and women of color" faced unprofessional treatment and asked the board to address favoritism and conflicts of interest.
Other speakers described personal allegations of sexual misconduct that they said involved district employees, and several called for Title IX–style procedures and a criminal investigation where appropriate. Community members said they had seen social-media posts and court records related to some accusations and urged trustees and the interim superintendent to ensure the safety of students while processes proceed.
At least one group of parents spoke in defense of an employee named Patricia Chávez and urged the board to investigate anonymous accusations and alleged smear campaigns, saying the employee has served the district for more than nine years and is a community resource.
Board response and limitations: Trustee Edgar Montes spoke during the meeting and said he would continue serving the community and defending his reputation; several speakers expressed personal support for him. Interim Superintendent Dr. de Susa (identified in the meeting as the acting superintendent) and board members repeatedly noted they are constrained by confidentiality rules and pending litigation when describing personnel actions taken in closed session. The record shows the district placed Superintendent Steven Ávila on administrative leave earlier; speakers referenced press reports and litigation connected to that leave.
No formal disciplinary outcomes were announced during open session. Multiple speakers asked the board to hire an independent investigator, to audit district contracting and to brief the public on Title IX compliance and protections for students and staff.
What the transcript records: Public comments on employee conduct and calls for investigation dominated the public-comment period (multiple speakers between roughly 8:51 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Feb. 5). Speakers included classroom teachers, parent-organizing groups (for example, Unidos de Corazón), community groups (West Side Action Group), and individual parents and volunteers.
Next steps mentioned at the meeting: Board members acknowledged the severity of the comments and the need for due process; Trustee Domínguez urged unity and transparency while noting the limits of what board members may say about pending matters. Several community speakers and at least one trustee asked the board to request outside counsel or independent investigators and to coordinate with Title IX and state or county authorities.
Ending: The meeting record shows broad community demand for independent review and clearer public explanations of next steps. The transcript does not record the board approving any specific independent-investigator contract or a public timeline for such a review during the Feb. 5 open session.
