Parents say Casy Elementary trip was canceled without notice; board asks superintendent to investigate

Parents of Casy Elementary students addressed the Rialto Unified School District board on May 6, saying a planned all-school trip to a Rialto theater was canceled at the last minute and that families learned of the cancellation through social media rather than direct district notice.

Sonia Morales, speaking for several parents, told the board that the school had planned an all‑school outing involving roughly 500 students and about 50 adults with approximately 10 buses arranged; she said the event was canceled unexpectedly and that parents and volunteers learned about the change via social media. Etna Almeria, identified as the school council president, described repeated communication problems at the school and said the council was not informed in a timely way. María Ortiz read a message reportedly sent by the principal that apologized for the change and said staff were working to reschedule the experience and would hold an in‑school assembly and celebration in the interim.

Parent concerns included lost instructional time (several students brought laptops for the planned activity), unclear planning and local logistical failures (parents described having to buy food for students when bus service and tickets failed), and the emotional impact on students who were excited for the outing. Parents asked Superintendent Alejandro Álvarez to investigate the circumstances and to provide a follow-up report; Dr. Álvarez acknowledged the request and agreed to look into the incident and include findings in his weekly report.

Why it matters: Parents said this was more than an inconvenience — they framed the cancellation as a communication and operational failure that affected hundreds of students, volunteer leaders and staff. The board’s oversight role includes ensuring district processes for event approvals, vendor/payment handling and parent communications function reliably.

What the district said: The principal’s message (read aloud during public comment) acknowledged the cancellation, apologized and said staff were working to secure a new date and to hold an in‑school celebration with incentives. Superintendent Álvarez accepted the parents’ request for an investigation and follow-up.

What’s next: The superintendent was asked to investigate and provide follow-up in his regular reporting to the board. The parents asked board members to ensure improvements in advance notice and parent communication for future events.

SOURCE: Public comments by parents at the May 6, 2026 Rialto Unified board meeting; apology text from the principal read into the record.