Mother tells board her Willoughby High daughter was assaulted; requests security plan and better communication

Umalia Benagas addressed the Waterbury Board of Education during public comment to report that her daughter, an 11th-grade honor student at Willoughby High School, was violently assaulted at a Nov. 26 pep rally and later diagnosed with a concussion.

Benagas said she received limited and delayed communication from school staff: she received one call notifying her the child was taken to an emergency room and another indicating an appointment; she said she was later forwarded a video of the assault circulating through the school and that she had not received follow-up contact about a security plan. She said her daughter had received medical documentation and recommended accommodations (quiet-space testing, limits on large gatherings), but Benagas had not heard back from the school about next steps.

"My daughter has seen a concussion specialist. She does have a concussion," Benagas said on the record. She asked the board, "What is the plan? What can I do as a mother?"

The chair replied that Superintendent Dr. Swartz would have someone look into the situation immediately. The transcript records no further comment from district staff on the public-record response or any immediate operational action beyond that commitment to follow up.

The public-comment period at the meeting included limits (maximum five minutes per speaker) and a statement that there would be no responses that evening to questions and concerns, with items referred to administration for review and response, per board procedure announced at the meeting.