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Extraído del Informe Consolidado
Esta investigación fue publicada originalmente como parte de un informe consolidado más amplio que contiene múltiples investigaciones. Consulte el PDF consolidado para ver el documento completo.
Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 1999-2000
Potter Valley Community Unified School District Potter Valley Community Unified School District (pvcusd) is a public
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 12 findings
F1
Page 187
As a result of numerous interviews, the Grand Jury became aware of the existing contention between some of the students and parents with teachers and administrators. Ironically, one of the teachers, who was praised by a school administrator for promoting sensitivity programs, was also the very teacher singled out by the students interviewed as the teacher showing the least respect toward the students. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the finding.
F2
Page 187
Several parents stated that they feel their children attend school in an unsafe environment. 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 187 Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent disagrees partially with the finding. The Potter Valley Community Unified School District maintains a safe and clean environment. The district works hard to insure that all students and staff are safe. Our schools are inspected on a regular basis to insure compliance with state and federal safety mandates.
F3
Page 188
Several students and parents gave specific examples and quotations made on different occasions of totally inappropriate sexual innuendoes and ethnic slurs made not only by students, but also by a few of the faculty. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent disagrees partially with the finding. While specific examples and quotations were reported, the district finds any sexual innuendoes or ethic slurs made by either students or staff as totally unacceptable behavior and subject to investigation.
F4
Page 188
Incidents of physical assault or threats of assault by a few faculty members were formally reported to the administration by parents and students over a period of years. This lends credence to concerns of an unchecked pattern of misconduct practiced not only by students but also by a few faculty members. Two top school officials verbally acknowledged some critical aspects of these incidents to the Grand Jury. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent disagrees partially with the finding. Once reports are formally given to the administration, action is undertaken to remediate the situation and take corrective action as appropriate.
F5
Page 188
Everyone interviewed stated that this type of misconduct is absolutely unacceptable. The efforts made by the school administrators to implement appropriate corrective action was, in several cases, frustrated by the lack of adequate and timely documentation, as clearly required by existing school policy. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with this finding.
F6
Page 188
In one of the most serious incidents, involving alleged physical assault by a faculty member, an administrator informed us that they did not become aware of the incident in their office until two years after it occurred and only then decided on a reprimand. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with this finding. 188 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report
F7
Page 189
The Grand Jury was frustrated by the School Administration's reluctance in allowing the Grand Jury to check personnel files to verify whether appropriate documentation exists, despite formal written opinions issued by the County Counsel and the District Attorney stating that such inspection is within the Grand Jury's purview. The Grand Jury never did get to see these personnel files. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent disagrees with the finding. The district after consultations with both employees and the district’s attorneys felt it was not mandated to release information contained in employees’ personnel files, and therefore, did provide this information to the Grand Jury. We do not think that this reluctance hindered the grand jury’s efforts.
F8
Page 189
School administrators, teachers, students and parents interviewed knew of the existence of numerous written policies distributed annually to parents delineating parent's rights and responsibilities. Everyone was also aware of the Disciplinary Action Charts posted throughout the school detailing appropriate response for violations committed by students. However, not one of the administrators or teachers interviewed was familiar with any similar documents pertaining to misconduct by faculty or administrators, though such rules do exist. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the finding.
F9
Page 190
The Grand Jury found the recent interim changes in Potter Valley School Administrative personnel and their collectively stated dedication to correct these deficiencies encouraging. Existing plans to work together with the Mendocino County Human Rights Commission to find new ways to improve awareness of the need to respect diversity is considered a step in the right direction. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the finding.
F10
Page 190
All parents interviewed stated they were not adequately informed about actions taken by the school administration following the report of incidents. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent disagrees partially with the finding. While some parents may not believe that they were adequately informed, disciplinary action taken by the administration and/or board of trustees cannot always be discussed or divulged due to confidentiality of employee personnel files and student rights.
F11
Page 190
Hazing by football team members involving physical abuse was reported by several students and parents and fully acknowledged by a staff member interviewed by the Grand Jury. Appropriate disciplinary action was taken in some instances, but on other occasions, the record shows that only after 190 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report pressure exerted by the affected parties including coverage in the media, was appropriate action taken as required and clearly stated in the widely publicized Disciplinary Action Chart. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the finding.
F12
Page 191
Several students and parents expressed apprehensions about possible retaliatory actions, which might be exercised by fellow students and certain members of the faculty and administrators following the reporting of abusive incidents. Several of the teachers and administrators acknowledged that such apprehensions among some of the students and parents undoubtedly exist and are largely responsible for the lack of appropriate reporting of alleged incidents, which prevents any meaningful investigation and action. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the finding.
Recommendations 4
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R9Page 187The Grand Jury found the recent interim changes in Potter Valley School Administrative personnel and their collectively stated dedication to correct these deficiencies encouraging. Existing plans to work together with the Mendocino County Human Rights Commission to find new ways to improve awareness of the need to respect diversity is considered a step in the right direction. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the
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R10Page 187All parents interviewed stated they were not adequately informed about actions taken by the school administration following the report of incidents. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent disagrees partially with the finding. While some parents may not believe that they were adequately informed, disciplinary action taken by the administration and/or board of trustees cannot always be discussed or divulged due to confidentiality of employee personnel files and student rights. Recommendation Efforts must be made to keep all affected parties totally informed of decisions made by the administration and of actions to be taken. Open communication among administration, teachers, students and parents is essential for establishing good rapport. Response (Potter Valley School): The recommendation has been implemented. Efforts will be made to keep all parties informed of any decision made by the administration as it relates to a specific incident.
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R11Page 188Hazing by football team members involving physical abuse was reported by several students and parents and fully acknowledged by a staff member interviewed by the Grand Jury. Appropriate disciplinary action was taken in some instances, but on other occasions, the record shows that only after 190 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report pressure exerted by the affected parties including coverage in the media, was appropriate action taken as required and clearly stated in the widely publicized Disciplinary Action Chart. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the
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R12Page 188Several students and parents expressed apprehensions about possible retaliatory actions, which might be exercised by fellow students and certain members of the faculty and administrators following the reporting of abusive incidents. Several of the teachers and administrators acknowledged that such apprehensions among some of the students and parents undoubtedly exist and are largely responsible for the lack of appropriate reporting of alleged incidents, which prevents any meaningful investigation and action. Response (Potter Valley School): The respondent agrees with the
Comments 1
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CO1 Page 192The Grand Jury review of progress made in the Potter Valley Community Unified School District during this investigation is encouraging. Concrete plans are presently being made for greater participation by both students and staff in a variety of diversity awareness programs. The administrators, teachers, parents and students are involved in formulating these plans. The Grand Jury highly commends this action. Response Required Potter Valley Community Unified School District Board of Trustees Response Requested Potter Valley Community Unified School District 192 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Potter Valley Community Unified School District
School District