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Superintendent Terry Romo: district did not organize Buena High walkout; celebrates student STEM awards
Summary
Superintendent Terry Romo told the Sierra Vista Unified District board that the district did not endorse or organize a recent Buena High School student walkout, that fewer than 30 students left campus without permission, and that administrators sought legal guidance and applied attendance and disciplinary policies; Romo also highlighted multiple student awards and scholarships.
Superintendent Terry Romo told the Sierra Vista Unified District governing board that the district did not organize or endorse a recent student walkout at Buena High School and that officials followed policy to prioritize safety and document the incident.
Romo said fewer than 30 students left campus, did not sign out, and were marked with unexcused absences. "The district did not organize um endorse or facilitate this walk out," she told the board, adding that administrators immediately contacted legal counsel "to ensure our response aligned with Arizona law and obviously governing board policy." Romo said disciplinary decisions were handled by site principals in accordance with board policy and legal guidance.
The superintendent's remarks responded to concerns raised by a board member, who had asked whether the district had covered all legal and safety bases after learning about reports of student departures. Board member Mr. Conroy said his comments were intended as cautions rather than accusations, citing other districts that faced legal challenges after large student walkouts.
Romo also spent significant time reviewing positive district news. She highlighted Buena High School students' success at the 42nd annual Youth Engineering and Science Fair ' Buena secured multiple grand-prize awards and will send projects to the International Science and Engineering Fair. Romo named student recipients and awards, including cash prizes and scholarships (examples cited by Romo included a $1,500 award for grand-prize projects and scholarships of $2,500 and $5,000 for two seniors). She praised teachers and community partners and listed upcoming arts and athletics events, noting professional development for staff over spring break and an upcoming district-wide band and choir concert.
Why it matters: Romo's explanation frames the district's handling of the walkout as an operational response governed by policy and law rather than a political endorsement of student viewpoints. At the same time, the board heard calls for clear documentation and for continued communication with families and legal counsel.
Board action and next steps: The board heard the report and moved on to other agenda items; no formal action on the walkout response was taken at this meeting. Members asked administration to continue documenting the incident and to make legal guidance and relevant records available to the board if requested.
