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Parents urge Chula Vista board to act after repeated assaults, staffing gaps at Greg Rogers Elementary
Summary
Multiple parents told the Chula Vista Elementary School District board that the district must add behavioral‑health staff and supervision at Greg Rogers Elementary after a string of assaults, elopements and large combined classes they say have left students and teachers unsafe.
Multiple parents and staff at Greg Rogers Elementary pressed the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Education on student safety during public comment, detailing repeated physical assaults, inadequate supervision and a shortage of behavioral-support staff.
"Safety is a big concern," parent Linda Garcia told the board, describing a kindergarten class that was combined into a 24‑student first‑grade class with many students she said have special needs. Garcia said the overcrowding and behavioral incidents—including biting, punching and incidents involving sharp objects—created "a safety issue" that required board attention.
Other parents described similarly alarming incidents. Randy Herrera said he removed his first‑grade son from school after repeated elopements and finding his child with a "golf‑ball sized lump" on his head. Parent Christy M. detailed multiple assaults against her daughter over six months, and asked the board for immediate intervention, including medical attention and prompt parent notification after any assault.
Parents and union representatives linked many of the problems to staffing shortages. "Our school only has 1 part time behavioral aide and 1 part time counselor currently funded by our school's site council," said Jade Bautista, who urged the board to approve full‑time counselors, full‑time behavioral specialists, psychologists and additional instructional aides for Rogers.
Trustees responded by thanking parents and promising follow‑up. Superintendent Reyes and staff said district leadership would meet with site administrators and with Assistant Superintendent Casey to explore immediate supports and resources; Trustee Fernandez asked site safety committees to identify ways to address "egregious student behavior" more quickly. The board directed staff to meet the next morning with school leaders to identify supports and next steps.
What happens next: Board members said staff will meet with Rogers leadership and report back; parents requested site visits and formal needs assessments to determine staffing and resource needs. The board did not take a formal vote on school‑level staffing during the meeting.
