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Parent alleges repeated harassment of autistic student at Marshall Elementary; asks board to revisit investigation
Summary
At the board’s public comment period a Marshall Elementary parent alleged repeated verbal and physical mistreatment of her autistic son and said a district inquiry found "insufficient evidence." She asked the board to inspect the site and provide oversight of the investigation.
A Marshall Elementary parent told the San Bernardino City Unified School District board on May 5 that her autistic son has been repeatedly harassed by a classroom teacher and that she has not received a satisfactory response from site and district investigators.
"My son is autistic and he has ADHD," Eva Flores told the board during public comments. She alleged the teacher yelled at the child over minor incidents, pulled at his hoodie and at times was physically close to his face. Flores said the family filed reports with the principal, the assistant principal and school police; she said district investigator Gloria Solis concluded there was insufficient evidence.
Flores said she has documentation and medical evidence of injuries she attributes to punitive chores assigned at school and that other families have refrained from speaking up. "They cover their own backs without considering the feelings of my son," she said, and asked the board to visit the site and supervise the investigation.
Board President Myra Sios acknowledged the comment during the meeting's public‑comments period but did not announce a public action in response; board procedure and state law can limit board discussion of personnel matters in public meetings. The parent asked for a postponement of any closed‑session action involving her case until she could meet with the board in closed session; she said she had not received written notice required by board policy and asked that her written response be reviewed.
Superintendent Mauricio Ariano and staff did not make a public comment on the record about the specific complaint during the meeting, citing confidentiality and investigative processes. The parent requested follow‑up contact from staff and left contact information with staff after speaking.
The allegation was made in public comment and thus is not a board determination; the district's summary in the meeting packet listed a district investigator's finding of insufficient evidence. The parent can pursue the matter through the district's formal complaint and appeal processes and may request a closed‑session meeting under board policy if the matter concerns personnel actions that will be considered by the board.
