TL;DR: Allegedly a violent, uncleared individual had access to Redwood Middle School students. Families deserve full disclosure, rigorous investigation, and meaningful accountability. Student safety comes first—no excuses, no politics, no delays.
Dear Saratoga Community,
We are here to make our schools safer and better. That is our central purpose.
We trust that the safety concerns raised by parents from an elementary school have been—or are in the process of being—addressed as directed by the Board during the first session of public comments. That direction was clear, and we hope it has been followed through to the satisfaction of the families involved.
The objective of this advocacy has always been to protect all our students and to ensure that concerns can be raised without attacking parents. Coming forward is extremely difficult. When parents do so publicly, it is a symptom that systems have failed them and that they felt they had no option other than to seek the support of the trustees in a public forum.
We must resist the instinct to protect institutions for their own sake or to shield the individuals behind them who have failed in their responsibilities. Institutions are not victims. They are run by people who are entrusted to act with care, judgment, and integrity on behalf of students, teachers, and families. When those individuals fail, accountability is not optional—it is essential.
Community concerns around the Alleged Felon
We must now draw our attention to the other issue raised: the presence of an alleged felon in contact with Redwood Middle School students during the 2024–2025 school year.
This raises urgent and unresolved questions:
- Does this individual possess photos, videos, or personal information about our children?
- What student or parent data may have been accessible through team platforms or apps?
- Did parents, trusting that the district had conducted due diligence, allow their children to engage in private tutoring or additional activities with this coach?
- Did this individual use affiliation with SUSD as a platform to gain credibility and coach other teams involving minors?
- What is the full fallout of this neglect, and who is accountable for it?
- How do we know that this individual will not grow disgruntled and attempt to re-enter our schools, potentially causing an unthinkable tragedy?
- Who, in good conscience, could attempt to minimize or spin this reality?
Disclosure, Knowledge, and Trust
A fundamental question remains unanswered: Was the district ever planning to disclose this serious breach of safety protocol to families?
If this breach was disclosed only after parents raised concerns publicly, then the community deserves answers to the following:
- Did district leadership know about this breach at the time it occurred?
- If so, why were families not informed immediately?
- If not, what failures in oversight, monitoring, or internal controls allowed this to go undetected?
- What concrete steps are being taken to ensure this can never happen again?
In either case, trust has been damaged. Families must understand how the district will ensure student safety going forward—not through assurances, but through enforceable safeguards, accountability, and transparency. Student well-being depends on it.
Scope of the Third-Party Investigation
The scope of the promised third-party investigation is critical and must not be narrowly limited to policy review alone. At a minimum, it must include:
- How and why clearance protocols were ignored or circumvented?
- Who knew, who failed to act, and who looked the other way?
- Whether similar violations have occurred previously?
- What corrective actions are required to prevent recurrence?
We strongly urge that the scope of the investigation be made public. Transparency is essential to restoring trust.
Removal of authority alone may not be sufficient. If individuals who demonstrated reckless disregard for student safety remain within the system, there is no assurance that further failures will not occur. Trust cannot be restored without meaningful accountability.
Retaliation Is Real
Retaliation is not hypothetical — it is real, and it has been observed. Parents have expressed fear of social, professional, and community consequences for speaking out. For this reason, this petition can be signed anonymously, so that families may advocate for safety without fear.
A Comparative Example of Transparency (Neighboring District)
It is important to note that other nearby districts have demonstrated how serious safety concerns can and should be handled with transparency and urgency.
In May 2020, a neighboring district, the Los Gatos–Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD), sent the following communication to families after learning of serious allegations involving a staff member:
Date: Fri, May 22, 2020 at 9:00 PM
Subject: News Regarding Mr. Ford
Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians:
The District was recently notified that Saratoga High School Music Teacher Andrew Ford was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault with a minor, alleged to have occurred between 2004–2006, over a decade prior to his employment with the District. Mr. Ford has been on an authorized leave of absence from the District since April 15th when we first became aware of allegations and he has been directed not to have contact with students.
As with all District employees, Mr. Ford completed all screening processes, including a thorough background check. Although there is no information suggesting that current or former District students are involved in this matter, in April the District initiated an inquiry into Mr. Ford’s interactions with students during his employment with the District as a precautionary measure.
If anyone has information they believe would be relevant to this inquiry, the District asks that you contact LGSUHSD Associate Superintendent at (408) 402-6303.
If you have any questions regarding the District’s handling of this matter or about its sexual harassment and sexual abuse policies, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
District Administration
This example demonstrates that it is possible to balance due process with clear communication, student protection, and public accountability. Families deserve nothing less.
Our Central Purpose
Our goal remains unchanged: to protect students, restore trust, and ensure that every adult in our schools meets the highest standards of accountability.
We will continue to advocate until transparency is achieved, accountability is enforced, and families can once again trust that student safety—not image or damage control—is the district’s highest priority.
Sincerely,
Concerned Parents and Community Members
For Further Reading
These articles document public reporting on the issues described herein and are provided for transparency and context:
Petition Update #4: Failing Student Safety is not a ‘gap.’
Petition Update #3: Press Helps Shed Light on Student Safety and Transparency at SUSD
Petition Update #2: Student Safety First: Transparency Is Needed After a Confirmed Breach
The Issue is presented: Petition to SUSD Trustees: Enforce Student Safety, Oversight & Accountability