Developing story*
At Monday’s MVLA board of trustees meeting, a representative from the Latino Parent Outreach leadership team issued a complaint regarding concerns of “alienation” in the MVHS community.
According to their statement written May 6, the LPO sent a signed petition to the board in March 2021 asking for “reinforced support for ELD students who are transitioning to regular classes.” ELD students have reportedly not received ample support when transitioning into regular education classes, leading to the complaint last Monday.
The letter stated a series of complaints, including having only one available assistant for all students in each class, random schedule changes without explanation throughout the year, and lack of communication with parents regarding the ELPAC placement test, highlighting in the statement that “parent engagement is crucial to the success of our students.”
The letter stated that leaders of the LPO had received pressure to merge their organization with the PTSA, “neglecting the significance of cherished cultural values among Latino parents.”
The letter alleges that the merger resulted in significant sacrifices of LPO events, such as “El Cafecito, Lunch with the Student,” where members of the LPO and leaders in the Latino community meet with students.
The LPO highlighted a specific incident when the MVHS administration transferred funds that were raised and designated for the LPO – and had been for eight previous years – due to an alleged Education code violation. After requesting more information, the LPO later received “vague responses” from administration, who then donated their funds to the Folkorico dance group,” the letter stated.
“These experiences have exacerbated the existing academic achievement gap observed by WASC four years ago, a gap we are determined to bridge,” the letter stated.
The letter states that the LPO demands the MVLA school board members to thoroughly investigate their complaints in order to prioritize the interests of the community and uphold the integrity of their concerns.
