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Family and community urge AUHSD board to act after student'death; call for independent investigation and more mental health supports
Summary
Public speakers at the Anaheim Union High School District board meeting pressed new leadership to increase transparency, expand mental health resources and commission an independent investigation into the death of 13'year'old Mia Mejia; the board acknowledged the family and said an independent investigation is ongoing.
Bianca Garcia, who identified herself during public comment, urged the Anaheim Union High School District to "put words into action" after recounting the death of her 13'year'old cousin, Mia Mejia. She told trustees the district has been slow to update policies and meaningfully increase student mental health resources and said previous leadership's silence had "cost lives." "You now can choose differently," Garcia said, calling on the board to save lives and create sustainable change.
Parent Maritza Bermudez echoed Garcia, saying the community has repeatedly asked for transparency, accountability and care. Bermudez asked the board to "humanize Mia" and to support an independent investigation and community'centered healing. "When families and communities show up repeatedly asking for answers, it is not disruption, it is advocacy," she said.
The board president publicly acknowledged the Mejia family and said the district holds the family "in our hearts," and that district leaders take the matter with "seriousness and care" while the independent investigation continues. The board did not announce any new personnel policy or funding change during the meeting.
Context: multiple speakers praised quick responses by other local bodies (library staff, Anaheim City Council and county officials) after Mia'related requests. Bianca Garcia contrasted those actions with what she described as slower district-level change. Speakers emphasized that their asks were not about budgets alone but about leadership choices, transparency and processes for suicide prevention and anti'bullying supports.
Next steps: the board reiterated the independent investigation remains active. Public speakers requested the district reach out to the broader community and consider forming a community'centered task force or independent review to advise on policy and mental health resources.
Quotes used in this article are drawn from speakers during the public comment period and are attributed only to persons who self'identified in the transcript.
