This is bigger than one school board meeting and one public comment.

I am the mother of a fourth grade special education student at Ramona Elementary School in Moreno Valley, California. My son has autism and ADHD, and he relies on the school's calming room every single day. Access to that room is written into his Individualized Education Program (IEP). He uses it during lunch, recess, P.E., and anytime he becomes overwhelmed throughout the school day.

This room is not a luxury. It is an essential resource.

It helps my son and other special education students feel safe, regulate their emotions, and access their education. I have seen the difference it makes for my own child.

I have also seen the care that goes into this space, especially from Mr. Anthony, who provides emotional support, educational activities, and a safe, welcoming environment where children feel understood and supported.

That is why I am asking Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) to stop the reported closure of the calming room at Ramona Elementary School, scheduled for October 29, 2026, and keep it open for the students who depend on it.

If funding is the issue, the district needs to explore every available option before removing a resource that is already part of students' daily routines and, in some cases, written into their IEPs.

Our children's needs do not disappear because funding runs out.

My questions remain the same:

What happens next for these children if this room closes? Where will they go? Who will provide the support they depend on?

I am asking MVUSD leadership and the Board of Education to provide answers, reconsider this closure, and protect the resources our special education students need.

Please sign and share this petition. Stand with our special education students, their families, and our school community to help protect this important resource.