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Parent tells trustees opt-out and library-review requests unresolved; asks board to direct superintendent to respond
Summary
A Southwest High School parent told the Central Union High board she submitted a formal opt-out request and later learned her child participated in a sexual-health lesson; she says the district did not provide a complete investigation or timely written resolution and that attempts to review library materials were delayed.
Lupita Carreno, a parent of two Southwest High School students, addressed the Central Union High School District board on Oct. 14 to report what she described as two unresolved complaints: a claimed violation of a submitted sexual-education opt-out and a denied or delayed ability to review library materials.
Carreno said she submitted a formal opt-out for her freshman on Jan. 7, 2025, and that her child was nonetheless included in a April 29 lesson on sexually transmitted diseases. She said she filed a formal complaint with the superintendent on June 17 and met in person with the superintendent and the school principal. Carreno said a July 22 certified letter she received did not include an investigation, corrective plan or formal resolution and that the state Uniform Complaint Procedure requires a written resolution within 60 days.
"It has now been a hundred days since my complaint was filed," Carreno told the board. She said she requested a formal investigation, a written explanation for why the opt-out was not honored, a district commitment to respect parental rights under law and procedural changes to ensure future opt-outs are recorded and followed.
Carreno also described a separate Aug. 28 attempt to review library materials. She said she visited the school office and the secretaries initially cleared her to review books during school hours, but the principal told her she could visit only after school hours and only if the librarian provided time on personal time. Carreno said she emailed the superintendent and board members the same day asking for three clarifications about district policy for parental review of instructional and library materials but received a brief reply that did not answer her questions.
She asked the trustees to direct the superintendent to issue overdue written responses to her formal Uniform Complaint Procedure filing, to review why parental complaints have been ignored or inadequately answered and to provide district policies that explain parental rights for opt-outs and library-material review.
Board members did not respond during the public-comment period. Later in the meeting the board adopted a second reading of proposed policy and administrative-regulation revisions; a trustee noted the district had already made opt-out forms available on the district website. Carreno said she had followed district procedures and remained patient and respectful but felt "ignored, dismissed, and violated in my parental rights."
