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Parents press Desert Sands Unified to act after repeated lockdowns at James Monroe Elementary
Summary
Multiple parents and volunteers told the board their students and staff at James Monroe Elementary are repeatedly exposed to a single, highly disruptive student; speakers described daily lockdowns, physical assaults, property damage and asked the district to reevaluate the students placement and provide one-to-one specialized support.
Several parents and volunteers addressed the Desert Sands Unified School District Board of Education on Oct. 7, 2025, pressing the district to respond to what they called an ongoing safety crisis at James Monroe Elementary.
An online commenter identified as Gian Maniago told the board "there is one student who has become severely disruptive and unsafe for both staff and students," and said the school has experienced repeated lockdowns and property damage. "The district is very aware of this issue and has not done enough to come up with a solution," Maniago said.
Volunteer Jacqueline OBrien described lengthy staff interventions that have removed counselors and other employees from serving other students. "Faculty across our entire campus [are] blocking every exit...and this is for hours," she said, adding that counselors who would normally be available to students are instead dedicated to the one child.
Glenn Luby, a School Site Council member and Monroe parent, told the board the student appears to need specialized care beyond what the campus can provide. "This particular student needs specialized care that is just not something that the school is really equipped to deal with," Luby said, and asked the district to empower staff with tools and resources to serve all students safely.
Volunteer and parent Therese Luby provided a specific account of a Sept. 25 incident in which the student eloped from class and was contained near exterior doors that open onto Avenue 42, a major street. She said the student displayed "persistent physical aggression, including hitting, biting, scratching, and kicking," and that parents and staff were confined during subsequent lockdowns. "If not for the swift and coordinated response of our staff, this situation could have ended in tragedy," she said.
Parent Brandon Smith said the frequent lockdowns are eroding students instructional time and creating fear in the student body. "How many hours of learning time is being taken away from other students?" he asked, adding that repeated lockdowns risk desensitizing students to what an emergency lockdown should mean.
None of the public-comment speakers asked the board to remove the child without due process; rather, parents and volunteers asked the district to reevaluate placement and provide one-to-one specialized support outside the current school setting so all students can learn and staff can work safely.
The board did not take formal action on Monroe during the Oct. 7 meeting. Trustees and staff heard the comments during the public-comment period; transcript records show the concerns were documented but do not record a follow-up directive or vote on placements or transfers during the session.
