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Student and residents tell Glendora Unified board a social‑media post made them feel unsafe
Summary
A Glendora High senior and residents told the school board a social‑media post by the board president’s spouse — quoted as “Keep coming, ICE” — has left students fearful and led to reports of on‑campus taunting; the board and superintendent said policies and staff are available to help, while the president defended his spouse’s right to comment.
Sophia Bugarin, a senior at Glendora High School and president of Latinos Unidos, told the Glendora Unified School District board on Monday that a social‑media post by the spouse of a high‑ranking local official — shared, she said, as "Keep coming, ICE" — made her and other students feel unsafe and discouraged reporting discriminatory incidents.
"Students my age already come to school fearing what is happening because of things that are happening in this world," Bugarin told the board, recounting an incident after the 2024 election when classmates told her, "I hope you know your parents are getting deported," and another time when a classmate slammed a green folder on her desk and said, "There's your green card." She said a teacher, Mr. Stevens, intervened and filed a report after seeing her upset.
The matter drew multiple public commenters and a response from trustees and administrators. Resident and longtime substitute Lenine Williams said the spouse’s post created "a feeling of hatred and division" in the community that harms students and families. Trustee Garcia, who identified herself as first‑generation Mexican‑American, expressed sympathy and urged students to document incidents and report them to site administrators; she cited recent state laws (AB49 and SB98) and outside resources shared at a roundtable with Rep. Gil Cisneros.
Superintendent Dr. Osborne told students the district has policies and staff to support them and invited anyone who needs assistance to contact the district office. "If there is not someone, please reach out to us at the district office. We'll make sure that we match you up with someone to support you," he said.
President Clifford responded at length, defending his wife’s right to express an opinion on matters he described as outside Glendora and saying he has found no incidents on district campuses tied to the post. He said his family has a law‑enforcement background and that he has investigated reports and "there has not been one" related incident on school grounds; he also criticized online reactions and urged private conversation over public social‑media attacks.
Board members and administrators encouraged students to report concerns and said the district will follow policy to investigate incidents. Audience members applauded during public comment and after some board remarks.
The board did not take formal disciplinary action on the social‑media matter during the meeting but invited students and community members to report incidents and to provide documented accounts so the district could act.
The district meeting continued with routine reports and votes on instructional materials and resolutions.
