Parents press board on school safety after classroom assaults, cite gaps in threat response and communication

Several parents used the district’s public‑comment period to tell the board about physical assaults, cyberbullying and inadequate communication and asked for stronger school threat assessment and threat‑management procedures.

Rachel Moore described an incident at Hanford High in which five students entered a classroom, assaulted her son and posted threats and videos on social media. She said safety‑button call devices in the school were taped over and that she had received little follow‑up from administrators despite repeated calls. Another parent, Mary Cruz, described a separate incident in which her daughter was struck in the face; Cruz said the principal’s initial response included telling her it was “allegedly” reported and that school staff told the victim she should change classes rather than moving the aggressor. Both parents asked the board to initiate a school‑based threat assessment and to examine the district’s procedures for responding to assaults and online threats.

Board members acknowledged the concerns and said staff (including the district safety administrator and the principal) would follow up. A board member said the district already conducts threat assessments as a state requirement but agreed the district should improve how it communicates with families and how victims are supported and reintegrated into classes.

During the discussion, board members said district staff (Tory and others) were already involved in follow‑up and that the board would request more details outside the public meeting to protect student privacy. Directors asked staff to provide the parents named in public comment with follow‑up contact and to review policy and training for handling bullying, cyberbullying and threat reports across elementary, middle and high schools.