Parents tell Chandler Unified board they were ignored after reporting alleged student abuse; speakers call for accountability

At the public-comment portion of the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board meeting on Wednesday, two speakers made sustained, detailed accusations that district leadership had not adequately responded to reports of student harm.

Katie McPherson, who identified herself as a parent and long-time campus staffer, told the board she reported alleged abuse in March 2022 and said only a small subset of the affected students were interviewed by investigators. "Listen to our children. Act boldly and swiftly when they report harm by peers or adults," McPherson said. She said five female students were interviewed at the time and that only one student had been interviewed by a forensic detective; she added that other students "were left to wonder if you even cared." McPherson said she was asking Superintendent Narducci "to be an upstander, not a bystander" in the remainder of his tenure.

Bridget Vega, a second commenter, told the board it had chosen the district's image and power over student safety. "When it mattered most, you protected your image and…