Community leader asks board to address superintendent's email about student walkout

During the public‑comment portion of the March 2 meeting, Pavel Correa, executive director of Rural Arizona Engagement, said he was speaking to correct what he characterized as "public defamatory comments" in an email sent by Superintendent Lavender to district parents about a recent student walkout.

Correa said the organization did not encourage students to walk out and instead provided on‑site support (safety vests, water and assistance crossing streets) when the district could not provide sufficient support. "Rural Arizona Engagement has not and never would encourage students to walk out," he said, and asked the board to encourage Superintendent Lavender "not to defame and scapegoat the organization that was there to help and [was] thanked by students and police officers."

Correa identified himself as a lifelong Casa Grande resident, a Marine Corps veteran and executive director of Rural Arizona Engagement and described the organization's statewide youth programming and civic education work. He said the group's work has served hundreds of students and urged the board to encourage Lavender to reengage with the organization.

When the president asked whether Superintendent Lavender wished to address the statements, there was no response recorded from Lavender during the meeting.

Why it matters: The public comment raised a formal concern about district communications and a public partner. The allegation that a district official publicly accused a nonprofit of encouraging student disruption is a reputational issue for both the district and the organization and may prompt follow‑up from trustees or district communications staff.

What comes next: The board did not take action on the public comment during the meeting; the matter may be raised again with the superintendent or placed on a future agenda if trustees seek a formal response or clarification.