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Parent says grieving student was denied leadership role; board offers condolences, superintendent to follow up
Summary
During public comment Carrie Lustig said her son Brady — an incoming 8th grader at Fulton Middle School who recently lost his younger brother and broke his arm — was denied a leadership program placement and received zeros while on bereavement; she called the treatment 'discriminatory' and asked the board to reconsider. Trustees expressed sympathy and the superintendent said he would follow up.
At the public‑comment period of the Fountain Valley School District board meeting on June 18, parent Carrie Lustig described a personal situation she said affected her son Brady, an incoming 8th grader at Fulton Middle School.
"My son, Brady, is an amazing, incoming 8th grader at Fulton Middle School...In November of last year...my 10 year old Kobe passed away," Lustig told the board, identifying herself and explaining that Brady received bereavement leave under California law. She said Brady also fractured his dominant arm a week before the loss, that teachers marked him down (including zeros for homework and PE) and that the school later declined to place him in an 8th‑grade leadership program for which she says he had earned consideration.
Lustig told trustees she believed the combination of her son's bereavement and injury led to unfair treatment. "I think Brady was completely discriminated against, moving into 8th grade for a program that he deserved," she said, and described Brady’s academic record (she said he had a 3.83 GPA) and school contributions. "It’s outrageous, and I’m so very disappointed," Lustig said.
President Cole and the board expressed condolences for the family. President Cole said, "On behalf of the trustees, we just wanna express our...condolences and our sympathy for your loss," and said the superintendent would follow up. Superintendent Dr. Stahl told Lustig he would reach out to get more details to assist the family.
The comment period generated no other public speakers on that item. The board did not take formal action during the meeting on the specific personnel or placement issue raised; Dr. Stahl indicated staff would follow up with the family.
