Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Access And Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents, advocates raise interpreter access and child‑safety concerns at Apple Valley board meeting
Summary
Public commenters told trustees they are not getting qualified ASL interpreters at district events and urged better accessibility; a parent also described a child sexual‑abuse case and demanded stronger prevention and reporting protocols.
Several community members used the Dec. 11 meeting to press the district on equity and student safety.
Bianca Madrid, a parent of three Apple Valley students, told trustees she has repeatedly received unqualified ASL interpreters from an agency the district uses. "They just gave me a paper to read myself...that's not giving me equal access," she said, and asked the district to establish contracts with interpreters who have RID certification and to provide written assurances of qualifications.
Separately, Monica King recounted a child’s long‑term trauma after an alleged sexual abuse incident at Rio Vista Elementary and urged the board to implement age‑appropriate consent and safety education, stronger investigation protocols and therapeutic supports for victims. "Every child has the right to feel safe...we have to create a program where children are taught at a young age bodily autonomy and help them recognize unsafe and inappropriate situations," King told trustees.
Trustees thanked speakers and staff said they would review interpreter contracts and provide follow‑up; the board did not take formal action on either item at this meeting.
Why it matters: Accessibility for parents who use ASL is a legal requirement under federal disability law and IDEA procedural safeguards, and credible prevention and response protocols for abuse allegations are central to student safety. Both issues have operational and legal implications for the district.
What’s next: The parent requested a written response within 10 business days; district staff acknowledged the complaint and said they would follow up. The child‑safety concerns were referred to appropriate administrators for review and possible policy or practice changes.
Representative quotes: "I'm not getting equal access to the schools...it's causing significant emotional distress," Bianca Madrid said. "We have to stop looking away," Monica King said of child abuse in schools.
