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Parents and community members tell board of harassment, defamation and procedural problems; district response deferred to closed session
Summary
Several public commenters accused other parents and district staff of defamation, retaliation and procedural failures. The board received multiple statements but no formal on-the-record action was taken; the meeting moved to closed session for personnel matters.
Multiple public commenters used the March 11 board meeting public-comment period to raise allegations about interpersonal conduct, defamation and procedural problems involving district staff and parents.
Nellie Sullivan, a Southwest High School girls basketball coach, addressed the board to say that false allegations against her were posted online following a February 11 public appearance by two parents. Sullivan said the claims have damaged her reputation, described having documentation to refute the allegations and asked the people advancing the statements to stop. Her husband, Michael Sullivan, also spoke and said he and his wife had submitted memoranda and supporting documentation to district staff but believed some items were not forwarded to higher administrators for action. He said the family had documented incidents and had at times escorted Nellie Sullivan to practice because of confrontations.
Lucero Flores and Irma Paz raised separate concerns about district staff conduct and paperwork handling. Flores said she believes a district staff member (identified in her remarks as Mr. Derma) showed animosity toward her and retaliatory behavior, and she said that she felt unwelcome and had considered moving her child to another school. Flores said she had raised the issue with Superintendent Dr. Farkas and human resources but felt the matter had not been resolved.
Irma Paz, with a translator present, described a missed signature on school paperwork that she said prevented her son from receiving medical support; she said she was told the case was closed because a required signature had not been provided and that she now must repeat the process.
District response and process notes: Board and staff did not take on-the-record disciplinary action during the meeting. Trustees noted the comments and the meeting later returned to closed session for personnel matters; the public portion of the transcript does not record a formal board action in response to the specific allegations raised during public comment. Superintendent and other staff were reported to have met with some callers previously; a commenter said he believed not all memoranda had been forwarded through the administrative chain.
Why it matters: The remarks signal ongoing disputes between community members, parents and staff. The board’s standard practice — listening to public comment and referring personnel matters to staff action or closed session — means those claims may be handled outside the public record; the meeting moved into closed session for personnel/administrative direction.
What the board said: Trustees thanked public commenters for raising concerns, stated they would return to closed session to consider personnel items, and adjourned the meeting after closed-session discussion. The transcript closes noting direction to the superintendent consistent with administrative personnel procedures and reference to Education Code authority for reassignment of administrators.
Ending: No public- record disciplinary findings or remedies were announced in open session; commenters asked the board for investigation and follow-up. The board scheduled further internal review in closed session and adjourned the meeting.
