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Parent tells TUSD board a teacher allegedly assaulted her child; board asks staff for a report and independent review
Summary
During public comment, a parent alleged her second-grader was physically assaulted by a teacher and said the district did not document the incident accurately; the board asked staff for a full report and an independent review of the handling of the case.
A Tucson Unified School District parent told the board on Feb. 10 that her son was physically assaulted by his teacher on Feb. 5 and that the district’s follow-up and documentation raised serious safety, accountability and liability concerns.
"My name is Jade Sims... on February 5, my son was physically assaulted by his teacher during class resulting in a head injury," Sims told the board during the call to the audience, describing anxiety and missed school activities after the incident and asking for "an independent review of this incident and the document process, confirmation of corrective action taken... and a written response outlining the steps the district will implement to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future."
Sims told the board the teacher had been removed and placed on home leave but was back in the classroom without notice to her. She requested an independent review and records documenting corrective action and communications with the family.
In response, Governing Board Member Sadie Shaw apologized and asked staff to provide a full report and an independent review of how the incident was handled and whether disciplinary actions were sufficient: "I would like to ask staff to give us a full report on this incident. I would also like to see an independent review of how this incident was handled and why, the disciplinary actions or lack thereof... is not as severe as it should be." Board Member Miss Monroe also asked staff to report to the board on the outcome.
Superintendent Trujillo said staff would prepare the requested report. The board did not take any immediate disciplinary action at the meeting; members restricted their remarks to requesting staff review and follow-up.
The transcript includes the parent’s request and the board’s request for staff follow-up; the district did not discuss investigative findings or personnel outcomes in open session at the Feb. 10 meeting.
