Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Activism topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents urge Garden Grove USD not to punish Pacifica students after walkout; special-education concerns raised
Summary
At the Garden Grove Unified School District board meeting, parents asked the district to be lenient with students who joined a Pacifica High School walkout and raised concerns about special-education practice in IEP meetings; trustees offered remarks and staff described next steps for guidance and meetings.
Crystal Cervantes, a Garden Grove parent, told the board the student-organized walkout at Pacifica High School showed leadership and asked the district not to impose harsh discipline. "I came today to ask the district leadership to please take into consideration the bravery and empathy that it took for our students to participate in this walkout," she said during public comment.
Parent Nicole Jamez spoke afterward about special-education processes and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, saying those sessions should focus on the individual child rather than generalizations. "When staff go, 'well, all the kids do this,' ... that's a child-find issue for you guys and not for staff to kind of bring up," Jamez said, and added that parent questions at a recent meeting were handled by a volunteer rather than district personnel.
Board members acknowledged the comments. A staff member told the board the district recognizes its policies on truancy and student safety but the district will consider leniency requests and said administrators and campus security were aware of the walkout and subsequent student attempts to return to campus. The staff presenter said the district would share follow-up information with the board as appropriate.
Several speakers during public comment also offered praise for school staff and programs, including a teacher who introduced senior student Jesus Farias, who credited the district's graphic-design class with helping him regain credits and plan for college. Parent Charlene Cuellar thanked principals and volunteers for creating welcoming school environments.
The board did not take formal disciplinary action at the meeting. Staff and trustees indicated they would continue to review the situation and that discipline decisions remain governed by district policy and attendance rules. The public-comment period and supporting video were recorded and posted on the district website, according to staff.
