Board of Education — August 20, 2024

Early transcript-only summary — no source links

The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education held a regular meeting on September 2024, where they approved the agenda and prior meeting minutes. The board received public comments regarding serious safety concerns at Highland Grove Elementary, where students reported that other students brought weapons to campus and made threats. Two parents expressed deep concern about the district's handling of the incident, citing inadequate consequences for the threatening students and questioning student safety protocols. The board acknowledged the concerns and indicated the superintendent's office would follow up. The meeting also featured presentations on summer programs, including high school credit recovery (786 students taking 1,295 classes), Extended School Year services for IEP students (162 students), Expanded Learning Opportunity programs (nearly 300 elementary students), and Universal Pre-Kindergarten expansion (583 TK students enrolled with 35 TK teachers).

Key decisions

• Approved agenda with flexibility (unanimous)
• Approved minutes from July 9, 2024; July 31, 2024; and August 6, 2024 meetings (unanimous)
• Accepted resignation of certificated employee 2024-2501 effective August 21, 2024 and approved related settlement agreement (unanimous during closed session)

Public comment

Two parents from Highland Grove Elementary expressed serious concerns about student safety following an incident where students brought weapons to campus and threatened a student who reported the behavior. They criticized the district's response, noting that the threatened student was placed in a room with her bullies during investigation, faced subsequent bullying for reporting, and questioned why no consequences were imposed on the threatening students. Parents referenced California Penal Code regarding assault and verbal threats, and questioned whether the district's stated commitment to safety was being upheld. One parent indicated she was considering moving her children to another district.

Notable speakers

Ashley D'Ambra - Highland Grove Elementary parent who described threats made to her daughter and criticized the district's handling, Nicole Gilliam - Highland Grove Elementary parent supporting the victim and citing California Penal Code on assault, Jacquan Olivarez - Concerned parent supporting a friend whose daughter experienced bullying, Mark Blind - Director of Secondary Education, presented summer school credit recovery data, Patty Buckmiller - Presented Extended School Year services program, Denise Fee - Presented Expanded Learning Opportunity Program summer activities, School board members (Jim, Michelle, Melissa, Alina, Speaker_13/Chair) - Provided comments on back-to-school visits and school activities, Alina Joseph - Student trustee from Citrus Valley High School reporting on fall sports and student activities

Topics: Student safety and weapons on campus · Bullying and threats at Highland Grove Elementary · High school summer school and credit recovery · Extended School Year (ESY) services for IEP students · Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP) · Transitional Kindergarten (TK) expansion · Universal Pre-Kindergarten · Back-to-school events and classroom visits · Student trustee appointments · Title IX training · Girls flag football inaugural event · Redlands Educational Partnership grants