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Parents press OCBE for review at Irvine International Academy over hiring, curriculum and governance
Summary
Multiple parents and community members urged the Orange County Board of Education to investigate hiring and governance practices at Irvine International Academy, citing complaints about a new executive director hire, unrecorded meetings, site council sign‑ups and sex‑education curriculum choices.
Parents and community members used the May 7 public‑comment period to press the Orange County Board of Education for increased oversight of Irvine International Academy (IIA). Speakers raised concerns about a recent executive director hiring, alleged Brown Act violations, incomplete meeting records, contested sex‑education curriculum selection and the school site council process.
Multiple parents asked the board to investigate the hiring of a new executive director (identified in public comment as “Dr. Stephanie Henry” in the transcript) and asked the county to send a designee to mentor and observe the IIA board during a leadership transition. A parent said a public interview recording was removed from YouTube and alleged that a key board meeting was not recorded; the speaker requested an inquiry into compliance with open‑meeting rules.
Several commenters raised objections to the choice of sex‑education curriculum. The Healthy Youth Act (California Healthy Youth Act was cited by commenters) and state requirements were referenced in public comments, with parents asking for clarity about whether the chosen curriculum complied with CHYA. Some parents said they believe the HEART curriculum better meets the state law and age‑appropriateness, while others objected to the curriculum selected by the school (Positive Prevention Plus). Parents also said school site‑council signups were misreported at a principal’s meeting.
Trustees were addressed directly and several public speakers asked the board to consider placing a board appointee or other assistance to strengthen IIA governance. Trustees directed that the concerns be taken under advisement and encouraged the petitioners and school leadership to engage with the county’s charter oversight staff. The board did not take formal enforcement action at the meeting but several trustees offered to meet with parents and staff to discuss specific complaints and next steps.
The record shows parents asked for investigations into possible Brown Act/open‑meeting violations, the hiring process transparency and sex‑education curriculum compliance with state law. The board indicated staff could review the complaints and, where warranted, request documentation from IIA and report back at a future meeting.
