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Parents and students tell board of repeated bullying, uneven responses; family calls for investigation and better communication
Summary
Multiple public commenters, including students and family members, told the board they experienced ongoing racial and peer harassment across district schools and raised concerns about inconsistent administrative responses and disciplinary outcomes. The board asked staff to review exit interviews and report back.
Several public speakers at the May 13 board meeting told the board they experienced repeated bullying and harassment, described uneven administrative responses across campuses and asked for concrete action to protect students and improve communication.
Students and family concerns: A student who identified herself as Aviva spoke to the board about four years of harassment and racial targeting at Cactus Shadows High School, including online groups formed to defame her, exclusion from social events and alleged retaliation for raising concerns. A seventh‑grade student, who said she previously attended Lone Mountain Elementary and Sonoran Trails Middle School, described being physically assaulted and receiving the same suspension as the attackers; she said she feels safer after leaving the district. A family member spoke to the board about repeated incidents spanning elementary through high school for two children, said their exit from the district followed inconsistent investigations and discipline, and urged the board to investigate exit interview practices and retaliatory treatment.
Parental and community requests: Speakers asked the board to ensure adults lead with empathy, investigate whether exit interviews were meaningfully completed, and provide clear follow‑up to families. One parent asked that the board and cabinet include board members in email responses and weekly updates when families have raised serious concerns; several board members requested that staff provide summaries of exit interviews and that the cabinet report back on trends.
Why it matters: Public commenters said ongoing harassment and the district’s response influenced family decisions to withdraw students, which administrators acknowledged can affect enrollment and funding. Board members asked staff to review the cases cited, gather exit‑interview data and provide a follow‑up report to the board. The superintendent and cabinet said they would review the concerns and include findings in future updates.
Ending: The board directed staff to review the families’ complaints, examine exit‑interview records and provide a status update to the board and in the regular weekly update so members know how concerns are being handled and what follow‑up occurred.
