Parents and advocates press Laredo ISD on mental‑health, bullying and alleged retaliation
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Summary
Multiple public commenters urged Laredo ISD trustees to address mental‑health concerns, special‑education supports and alleged retaliation against an advocate cleared by the DA; trustees listened but took no immediate disciplinary action during the meeting.
At the start of the public‑comment period April 18, several community members told the Board of Trustees they were worried about the district’s handling of mental‑health issues, bullying and alleged retaliation against volunteers and advocates.
Juan Rodriguez (listed in the agenda as representing SUN) criticized books and curricular materials he said could cause mental‑health problems and warned against removing cursive instruction from schools: “If you are really trying to take out cursive from the schools, you are really trying to really make our children a lot dumber than what they are,” he said.
Anthony Torres raised a separate set of complaints: he said the district’s antibullying policy and grievance process had failed his community, criticized what he described as uneven security staffing and pledged continued advocacy and electoral pressure unless problems were addressed.
Kayla Sanchez, who identified herself as an LISD advocate, publicly defended an advocate named Valentin (Vale) Ruiz. Sanchez said the district had pressed charges against Mr. Ruiz for an alleged assault during a sports event but that the DA’s office and pro bono counsel had cleared him. “He was acting as a good Samaritan, which is protected by state law,” she said, and she accused LISD of retaliation, nepotism and inequitable practices toward parents, students and staff.
Trustees acknowledged the comments and reminded speakers that individual employment or student matters must proceed through the district’s complaint process. Board policy read earlier in the meeting (BED legal and BED local) and the Texas Government Code limit board responses in the public forum to recitations of policy or factual information.
What’s next: Trustees did not take immediate action on individual claims during the meeting. The public‑comment period recorded allegations that district staff or trustees may follow up on through existing complaint and investigatory procedures.
