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Parents, residents urge Chico Unified to repeal parental-notification practice as litigation looms
Summary
Dozens of public speakers at the April 16 board meeting urged the Chico Unified School District to repeal or revise policy 5145.3, which commenters said allowed staff to withhold information from parents; speakers cited revived litigation and warned of federal funding risk under FERPA.
Dozens of parents and community members pressed the Chico Unified School District board on April 16 to remove what they described as a "parental secrecy" practice, saying the policy excludes parents from key decisions and has exposed the district to litigation.
The public-comment period, which focused heavily on the district's policy 5145.3, featured speakers who said the policy had resulted in the district allowing changes to a child's school record or identity without parental notification. "This board's active support of secretive policies that exclude parents ... is not only unethical, it violates federal law," Jessica Montgomery told the board, citing ongoing litigation involving a parent identified in the record as Aurora Regino.
Other speakers warned the district could lose federal funds if it willfully withholds education records from parents. "When school districts willfully violate FERPA, they risk losing federal funding," Gina Bax said, linking concerns about parental notification to federal reporting obligations. Rob Barry and Michelle Cooper cited legal decisions around the country and urged the board to place repeal or revision of the policy on a future agenda.
Board members did not take immediate action on the policy during the meeting. Multiple speakers asked the board to agendaize a formal discussion so the public and the board could examine the policy text, legal exposure and possible changes.
Why it matters: Speakers framed the issue as both a legal and a community trust question. The board has faced related litigation referenced by commenters; any formal change to district practice could affect staff training, student privacy processes and state or federal compliance steps.
What the district said: At the meeting staff did not present a staff-initiated recommendation to change policy 5145.3. Board members agreed to place a discussion of school resource officers and to consider public requests for further agenda items; the policy question is expected to return in a future meeting if members or staff bring a formal proposal.
Next steps: Community members who spoke asked the board to schedule a public agenda item that includes staff analysis of the legal background (including FERPA), any active litigation, and options for policy modification or repeal.
