Parents and teachers urge district action after repeated disruptive incidents at Grayhawk Elementary kindergarten

Parents and teachers raised safety concerns at the Aug. 21 Paradise Valley Unified School District governing board meeting about repeated, severe disruptive behavior by a kindergarten student at Grayhawk Elementary.

“Since the beginning of the year, our daughters have experienced multiple issues with one child in Miss Atkinson’s class,” said Judy Genge, president of the Grayhawk Elementary PTO. Genge described incidents that include running from classrooms while screaming, hitting other children and throwing chairs; she said a kindergarten student’s behavior has been repeatedly disruptive and that parents have raised the concern with school administration.

Christie Atkinson, the kindergarten teacher referenced by Genge, told the board she has taught in the district for 26 years and described daily incidents that have injured students and staff. “This child has physically harmed myself, multiple students, and staff members,” Atkinson said. She said the child has run out of the classroom multiple times, once through the front door of the school, and that some classroom activities have required two or three adults to maintain safety. Atkinson said district staff have helped but are not always available and she was “on record” that she has done everything in her power to address the safety issue.

Jessica Solanek, a teacher and parent who said she monitors recess near the classroom, said the behavior includes screaming, running down hallways, throwing items, kicking furniture, hitting people and biting. She cited the district’s parent-student handbook language that “students who engage in violent or aggressive conduct may be removed from the classroom immediately and considered for long term suspension, expulsion, or placement in an alternative educational setting.” Solanek asked the board what action the district would take to ensure the kindergarten students’ safety and the classroom’s ability to function.

Superintendent Dr. Cummings responded during public comment that the district was aware of the situation and that district staff, including Dr. Lindsey and Mr. Hubbell, were working through the district’s processes with families. “There are processes behind the scenes that I cannot get into publicly, but we are working through the district's process,” Dr. Cummings said, and he noted that legal and family processes can take time.

No formal board action or vote occurred on the matter during the meeting; board members listened during the public comment period and staff indicated they were following district procedures. The speakers urged faster action to protect young students and to minimize lost instructional time while recognizing the need for due process when a student’s disability or special education status may be involved.

The board did not announce specific next steps publicly; the superintendent indicated staff would continue to work with families and use internal procedures.