Parents tell Orange County Board of Education they faced retaliation at Irvine International Academy; board opens review

Several parents and volunteers told the Orange County Board of Education on May 26 that they have been targeted and retaliated against after raising concerns about curriculum, school practices and finances at Irvine International Academy, and the boardand county staff said they have opened formal inquiries and will return the topic to the board at a June 18 meeting.

At public comment, parent Anh ("Anlily") said she and others tried ordinary channels before escalating to the county. "I was trying to advocate for children and work with the school for solutions. But instead of being heard, we were retaliated against," she told the board. She said anonymous teacher comments read into an IIA board meeting on May 20 had identified two parents by name and accused them of creating a hostile environment.

Why it matters: The county is the charter authorizer for schools it approves. When several parents and volunteers raise similar complaints about student supervision, curriculum materials, fee policies and alleged retaliation, the authorizer must decide whether the charterand the charter boardare meeting statutory requirements to provide a sound educational program.

Parents and volunteers gave specific examples to the board. Tiffany Craft, who identified herself as a parent of a fifth grader at Irvine International Academy, said teachers anonymously read emailed comments into the record at an IIA board meeting that accused her and another parent of creating a "toxic and hostile environment." Craft told the county board she was then investigated by IIA administration and asked the Orange County Board of Education to "put an immediate end to this retaliation." She said she had "a copy of the transcript from the board meeting" and asked county staff to investigate.

Other public commenters echoed that account. Volunteer Ellen Strassma said she saw delayed answers from IIA administration and said parents did not receive timely explanations for administrative changes such as moving fifth grade into the middle-school schedule. Geneva Bailey, speaking as a parent from Irvine, said she had "witnessed retaliation" and called for objective investigations.

County staff said they have already taken steps. Araceli (charter schools staff) told the board that the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) sent a notice of concern to IIA on May 8 alleging potential unlawful pupil fees for required materials; the school responded and has taken some steps to correct that issue, she said. Deputy Superintendent Hendrick said OCDE staff are also requesting additional information regarding potential CAASPP testing irregularities and that some complaints do not fall squarely into statutory investigation categories but are nonetheless being reviewed.

OCDE counsel and staff described next steps to the board. County legal counsel explained the board has statutory authority under Education Code section 47604 to take actions that can include appointment of a designee to a charter board in extraordinary circumstances, though that remedy is unusual. Superintendent Stefan Bean and charter-unit staff said they will collect and analyze written complaints, follow the Uniform Complaint Procedure (UCP) process where applicable, and bring options to the board on June 18.

Board members urged prompt review. Trustee Valdez said he had sent a four-page summary letter of parent concerns to the school and that, if the school does not respond, he plans to place the matter on the IIA board agenda. Trustee Barkey said the countywhich had authorized IIAmust decide whether the school still offers a sound educational program; she stressed the board has authority at renewal to deny or not renew a charter if it finds the program unsound.

What the board asked staff to do - Collect written complaints and the schools responses and report recommended next steps. - Prepare options for the board on June 18, including possible increased oversight and remedies available under Education Code section 47604. - Continue investigations already underway (notice of concern relating to pupil fees; requests for information on CAASPP testing) and report back.

Parents said they came to the county after exhausting district- and school-level channels. Several public commenters said they had sought answers through SSC or advisory meetings, emails and direct conversations, and that they had not received satisfactory responses from IIA administration. One parent said she had been coerced into signing a settlement in a prior district dispute and called for "objective investigations." A retired librarian who volunteers at IIA told trustees she had helped supply the school library with little funding and said slow or late communications had created mistrust.

School oversight and constraints County staff repeatedly told trustees that some complaints are investigated under UCP rules, which require an identifiable written complaint and specific follow-up, and that staff need documents and formal complaints to trace whether the school followed required procedures. The countyas authorizerhas tools at renewal or in response to statutory violations but generally must follow notice and due-process steps.

Board next steps and timeline The board and staff agreed to schedule a focused item on the June 18 board meeting to consider the compiled complaints and OCDEs findings. Staff said they would prepare a menu of options for the boardfrom additional monitoring and notices of concern to, in extreme cases, remedies considered at renewal. Legal counsel said appointment of a county designee to the charter board is legally available but "unusual," and that OCDE staff would weigh pros and cons for the trustees.

A repeated theme from trustees and staff was that parents must be heard. Trustee Valdez said local parents should be primary stewards of the school culture, and several trustees said the county must act promptly to restore trust.

Ending The countycharter unit and superintendent told trustees they would continue fact-finding and report a recommended path forward on June 18. In the meantime, OCDE confirmed it has opened formal inquiries in specific areas (pupil fees and testing irregularities) and encouraged parents to file written complaints to support timely, document-based investigations.