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Parent says daughter was "brutally attacked," urges answers from Jemez Valley school board
Summary
At the March meeting of the Jemez Valley Public Schools board, a parent said her 10th-grade daughter was “brutally attacked” on Feb. 17, described medical treatment and criticized school response; the parent said two alleged attackers remain in school and said she will pursue legal action.
Michelle Chavez, a parent, told the Jemez Valley Public Schools board during the public-comment period that her 10th-grade daughter was "brutally attacked" on Feb. 17 and described extensive injuries and ongoing medical care.
"She was bleeding. She was traumatized. She was missing nails. She was missing hair. She couldn't see out of her left eye," Chavez said, recounting that she received a photo from her daughter and did not get a call from the school for more than 20 minutes. "My daughter now is receiving extensive medical care... She gets her MRI on her spine and her head this week." (Michelle Chavez, public commenter)
Chavez said two students she identified as having previously engaged in violent behavior were allowed to return to school and that her daughter has been moved to remote instruction. She said she has not received satisfactory communication from school leaders and intends to pursue legal action against the families and the school if accountability is not addressed.
Superintendent Dr. Cohen was in the meeting and later led the board through agenda items; during the meeting Dr. Cohen also asked the board for a directive to develop a district communication plan to improve how the district informs stakeholders about incidents while protecting privacy. Board members indicated support for staff to draft such a plan for future consideration.
The parent’s remarks were placed in the public-comment section of the meeting; the board did not take immediate action on-site in response to the comment. The comment prompted board discussion about a district communication plan and a staff directive to develop a plan to improve stakeholder notifications and information flow, subject to privacy and legal limits.
The board meeting record shows the district also noted that the principal and superintendent were present when the parent arrived on campus; the parent said they did not provide answers at that time. The board did not vote on any disciplinary or operational actions during public comment. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 21, when follow-up items may be discussed.
