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Student, parents press Garden Grove Unified for accountability, transparency and inclusive CTE pathways
Summary
A student and several parents told the Garden Grove Unified School District board they faced bullying, lack of follow‑up on complaints and barriers to career‑technical programs; a trustee defended existing phone policies and the board agreed to review policy language.
Nicholas Magana, a student, told the Garden Grove Unified School District board he was bullied by two seniors and by an ASB advisor and that a formal complaint he and his mother filed in April was closed without investigation or explanation.
"I was constantly bullied by 2 seniors and my ASB advisor," Magana said, calling on the board to hold student leaders and staff accountable and to include student voices in any corrective process.
Magana’s testimony was followed by parents who raised related concerns about transparency and access. Parent Nicole Hymas said she "rewon" a state complaint and urged the district to record and publish study sessions so working parents can see the information and rationale behind decisions. Hymas also urged the district to make the new skilled‑trades pathway more inclusive for students with learning disabilities, suggesting a two‑year junior/senior option to avoid removing electives for students on IEPs.
Another commenter, Nicholas Dibbs, urged the board to allow remote public participation for superintendent evaluations, said he opposes renewal of the superintendent’s contract, and repeated concerns about fairness and the district’s handling of staff and election matters. Dibbs also urged a district‑wide smartphone ban on buses and campuses to curb bullying and cyberbullying, citing other districts' policies.
Trustee Bob Harden responded directly to complaints about inconsistent phone rules, saying district guidelines require phones to be turned off and stored in a backpack at elementary and intermediate campuses and that high schools allow more leeway for older students. "The district's guidelines are very clear and they're enforced at all of the elementary schools," Harden said, adding that enforcement and progressive discipline vary by site.
Why it matters: public commenters told trustees they feel excluded from internal processes, want clearer accountability for complaints involving staff and student leaders, and ask for policy changes to broaden access to CTE programs for students with disabilities. Trustees thanked speakers, welcomed the new student representative, and said some policy language will be reviewed during upcoming policy work.
What’s next: The board did not take immediate disciplinary action during the meeting; several speakers asked for follow‑up, and trustees indicated policy review and district staff follow‑up are possible next steps.
