Parents press Duarte Unified board for clearer communication after incidents at Valley View Elementary
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Summary
Several parents told the Duarte Unified board that repeated classroom disruptions and an incident they say included a student striking another student and a teacher have not been adequately communicated; they asked for proactive placement and safety solutions.
Multiple parents from the Duarte Unified community urged the board to improve communication and proactive safety planning after what they described as repeated disruptions at Valley View Elementary.
Patty Navarette told trustees her child’s fourth-grade classroom "experienced months of classroom disruption, repeated evacuations, and loss of instructional time" because of a student placement the district had previously acknowledged as harmful. "The solution should not move the problem," Navarette said; she asked the board to ensure proactive placement and clear oversight so classrooms are not repeatedly put at risk.
Another parent, Irina Yesayan, said her son was "a victim" and "came home with bruises" after an episode at Valley View that she described during public comment. "When my son told me something happened at the school, I was happy to see that there was an email... I would like that to happen at Valley View," she said, urging the district to provide the same level of notification and reassurance parents reported receiving at other sites.
Richard Navarrete described a reported incident in which a teacher was physically assaulted while students were present and said parents were not informed. "Privacy laws do not prevent the district from communicating that an incident occurred outlining what safety measures are being taken," he said, adding that silence "creates fear" and undermines trust.
Superintendent Dr. Medrano acknowledged the concerns and said staff are continuing to engage with families and principals to improve communication, safety procedures and placement decisions. She told the board she is convening teams and outreach meetings as part of ongoing district engagement efforts.
Parents asked the board to adopt clearer, proactive notification practices and to prioritize placement and training solutions that prevent similar incidents. The board requested staff follow up with parents on specific next steps and communication plans.