Parents urge board to approve Moreno Valley High girls volleyball trip to Hawaii after denial

Multiple parents and student representatives asked the Moreno Valley Unified board to reconsider a denial of travel for the Moreno Valley High School girls varsity volleyball team to compete in Hawaii.

Cantrell Hayes, a parent and middle‑school counselor, described the invitation to a Hawai‘i tournament as a "once‑in‑a‑lifetime" opportunity for student‑athletes who helped the school win CIF championships. He said the trip had been denied and asked the board for an explanation and reconsideration, adding that the denial hampered students’ ability to plan and fundraise.

A student letter from captain Ava White and additional parent speakers emphasized the team’s success, academic performance and community support. Angela White, a parent, questioned whether other schools in the district had received approvals for similar trips and urged the board to provide a rationale for the decision.

Superintendent Dr. Rubicaba said district staff would look into the travel request and that the trip had not come to central office staff for final approval; he offered to follow up after the meeting.

Why it matters: Board approval is required for out‑of‑state travel for school teams; parents say a denial with limited explanation threatens competitive opportunities and fundraising timelines.

Next steps: Superintendent staff said they would investigate the denial and work with the school to determine whether approval could be granted.

Provenance: Public comment recorded during non‑agenda public comments; district staff committed to follow‑up.