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Parents and grandparents raise racial‑profiling concerns during public comment as board appoints operations director
Summary
Multiple community members said they felt singled out and mistreated by administrators at a Feb. 9 high‑school basketball game; the board heard the complaints, discussed an investigation, and voted to appoint Tad Reagan as executive director of operations, services and safety.
Several community members used the public‑comment period at the Flagstaff Unified School District board meeting on Feb. 24 to describe an incident they said occurred at a Feb. 9 Flagstaff–Coconino rivalry basketball game where they felt they were singled out and threatened with police involvement.
"I felt like I was racially profiled by Mr. Reagan," said Arlene Jensen, a Coconino High School grandparent, describing being escorted out and later hesitant to return to that gym. Dorothy Gagee and Janine Jensen told the board they were dissatisfied with the district investigation’s finding that discrimination was not substantiated and asked for clearer accountability, staff training and procedural changes to ensure equitable enforcement at school events.
Jim Parks and several other speakers said the four Navajo women involved were publicly embarrassed and urged the board to ensure consistent, respectful treatment at events. Speakers requested written corrective actions, monitoring of effectiveness and clearer communication about procedures during large events.
At the same meeting the board considered and approved the appointment of Tad Reagan to be executive director of operations, services and safety, effective July 1, 2026. Administration said it had investigated the Feb. 9 incident and concluded staff actions were within the scope of their authority and motivated by safety and event supervision rather than discriminatory intent. "We've investigated this and determined that Tad and other administrators... their actions weren't motivated by discriminatory practices," Superintendent Penza said.
Board members acknowledged the community’s feelings and said they take concerns seriously; some members publicly supported Reagan’s qualifications and urged he serve with integrity. The appointment motion passed after board discussion; the board recorded dissent during the voice vote.
Board members and administration committed to bringing relevant details about the Feb. 9 investigation and any longer‑term corrective actions to the Anti‑Bias and Anti‑Racism Advisory Committee for review and to report back to the board, and staff said immediate steps were underway ahead of spring athletics.
The board also approved multiple other consent and action items that evening, including adoption of the K–5 Amplify CKLA ELA curriculum, an E‑rate procurement preapproval, memoranda of understanding for student prevention clubs, continuing contract issuance for certified staff and other routine motions.
