Parent alleges repeated safety and communication failures at Altoona Area High School

Alan Griner, a parent of two Altoona Area High School students, told the Altoona Area School District board on Sept. 23 that his daughter experienced repeated incidents of violence and what he called failures in communication and student support.

Griner described a series of episodes beginning last school year in which his daughter was threatened in a cafeteria by a student wielding a metal chair and later was "jumped on a school bus by at least 1 student." He said the daughter received a one-day in-school suspension for defending herself and that he was not notified of that disciplinary action until a week later by mail. "She served a 1 day in school suspension for defending herself, which I was not notified of until a week later via the United States Postal Service," Griner said.

Griner told the board the pattern continued this school year. He said his daughter was denied access to a restroom during a pep rally on Aug. 22, 2025, and "when she arrived home from school, she had bled through her jeans." He said that on Sept. 10 his daughter called crying from the nurse's office with severe cramping, and that the family had to call the school to secure her release despite being listed on emergency forms. On Sept. 12, Griner said a phone confiscation and inconsistent messages from staff followed updates to emergency contact forms.

Griner also described a separate incident in which his daughter intervened in an assault on another student during the school day and was assaulted herself. He said he spoke with school staff including a Mr. Schultz, Mr. Harrington and Mr. Neely and that Officer Riley of the school district police told him an investigation would begin the following Monday. "There was no discussion on Monday," Griner said, recounting that promised follow-up did not occur.

Griner framed his message as a question for the board: "Why is it acceptable to have a 0 tolerance policy for students having cell phones, but not a 0 tolerance policy for staff not contacting parents?" He said his family's experience taught his daughter that "no adult is going to lift a finger to defend her even when she asks for help." He closed by urging better communication and protection for students.

The public-comment portion of the meeting concluded without recorded formal action on the incidents Griner raised. Board discussion or staff response to his remarks was not included in the meeting record excerpt.