Parent tells Palm Springs Unified board her child was denied restroom use and bullied; requests medical and travel cost reimbursement

Selena Flores told the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education during public comment on Feb. 25 that her daughter was being bullied at school and that a teacher recently told the child she could not use the restroom during class, a restriction Flores said led to medical problems.

"My daughter...the teacher says that I can't use the restroom," Flores said, describing a history of reported incidents dating to December and saying she had not received follow-up from school staff after earlier complaints.

Flores said her daughter has medical needs (a gastrointestinal history that required specialist care) and that being denied restroom access can cause bladder infections and other complications. Flores said she has paid for therapy and self-defense classes for her children and asked whether the district would reimburse medical bills, gas and other expenses she said were incurred because the school did not protect her child.

Board clerk Claire Gurell acknowledged that the board had received emailed public comments and indicated the board had those materials. After Flores spoke, a staff member said they had taken note of her remarks; no formal board action or vote followed during the public-comment period.

The board did not discuss or vote on specific remedies during the meeting; Flores told the board she had attempted to reach the principal and school attendance staff without receiving a response and asked the board to address the issue.

The remarks were part of the public-comment portion of the Feb. 25 meeting; the board did not indicate at the meeting that it had initiated any immediate personnel or disciplinary action in response to Flores27 remarks.