In Case You Missed It: The June 11th Investigation Release & What’s Next
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)
While families were away on summer break, SUSD released the official findings of the Redwood Middle School background check investigation. It confirmed a shocking multi-year breakdown: an individual with a criminal history involving a string of armed robberies, burglary, and—according to local newspaper reporting—a violent home invasion witnessed by two minors under the age of 6 coached students because safety checks were ignored for a "personal acquaintance." Student safety is everyone's responsibility—protecting our kids has no expiration date.
Safety is Everyone's Responsibility - Starting with the TRUSTEES/District Administration who broke our trust
Protecting our children requires constant community vigilance. This report proves that we cannot simply assume systems are working safely behind closed doors. The sheer severity of the flagged record makes the decision to bypass the background check entirely indefensible.
We know that fear of retaliation is real, and many families may not feel comfortable speaking out or emailing officials directly. You do not need to put yourself in the spotlight to make a difference. The safest and most powerful thing you can do right now is help us build safety in numbers.
👉 Our Immediate Action Item: Please share the link to this petition with three other Saratoga families, or post it to your private parent group chats. Let’s ensure every parent knows the facts.
What Comes Next
We are just getting started. In our upcoming updates, we will publish a multi-part deep-dive analysis dissecting these revelations. We will analyze exactly how the old system allowed a single employee to bypass criminal checks, and we will outline what true, independent accountability must look like moving forward.
We will keep the district accountable, no matter how long it takes.
The Official Records (Posted As-Is):
1. The June 11, 2026 Investigation Release
Follow-up to the November 2025 Uncleared Volunteer Incident
Dear SUSD Families and Staff,
In November 2025*, a matter came to the attention of Saratoga Union School District (SUSD) that a volunteer with a criminal record served as a basketball coach in previous school years. Upon learning of this criminal history, the District notified the community and retained an independent third-party investigator to investigate the background check and selection procedures for coaches and volunteers, and whether there was any adverse impact or harm on students.
The search and hiring for the independent investigator took place in December 2025. Lincoln White Investigations, LLP, was selected. Their assigned attorney began fact-finding in January 2026 and continued through the spring semester. As part of the investigation process, interviews were conducted with staff, students, parents and community members.
At the June 8, 2026 Regular Board Meeting, the investigation findings were reviewed by the SUSD Board of Trustees during closed session. The findings are being shared with the SUSD community today.
The summary of the independent third-party investigation findings are as follows:
The person in question served as an assistant basketball coach during the 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. He has had no involvement with the District athletics program since then. Parents and students who played on teams coached by the individual were interviewed. There were no reports of harm or other inappropriate or concerning behavior by him while coaching. Nor did the investigation learn of any information that the individual’s criminal convictions had a directly adverse impact on the students’ participation in or experience with the program.
The investigation revealed that the individual’s father had a long history of coaching at the District. The individual’s father brought his son’s criminal conviction to the former Athletic Director’s attention while communicating his son’s interest in coaching prior to the 2023-2024 season. The criminal history consists of convictions for armed robbery and first-degree burglary in 2016.
The District’s criminal background check revealed the individual’s criminal convictions. It was the District’s former Athletic Director, aware of the criminal convictions, who decided to let the individual serve as an assistant coach, with his mother serving as head coach, to be present at all times during practices and games, for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. This decision was based on the then Athletic Director’s personal acquaintance with the family, the fact that the individual had served his sentence following the conviction, and the difficulty she had securing a coach for the team for the season. This decision was not shared with district personnel nor Redwood Sports Boosters leadership.
The District believes that the individual should not have been permitted to participate in the District’s athletic program because of his criminal history.
It is recommended that to ensure a further recurrence of these incidents, the District will implement new policies and procedures in the following areas:
- Evaluate the reporting structure of the Athletic Director position;
- Continue criminal and other background checks for volunteers and paid coaches;
- Incorporate the entire hiring and onboarding process for volunteers and paid coaches to the Human Resources Department;
- Institute checks and balances into the hiring and selection of coaches and volunteers;
- Establish new procedures and requirements for “School Connected Organizations” including PTA (and associated clubs, events, etc), Redwood Sports Boosters, Saratoga Education Foundation, Saratoga Music Boosters and other booster groups.
The District will discuss these and other measures at an upcoming Board meeting in August. Approved measures will be implemented during the 2026-2027 school year. We are very appreciative of your patience so that a comprehensive investigation and procedure review could take place.
Sincerely,
Ken Geisick
2. The Original November 12, 2025 Notice
Subject: Volunteer Clearance Procedure Review
To: SUSD Families and Staff
We are writing to share information about a matter that recently came to our attention involving an afterschool program. We have learned an uncleared volunteer was participating in afterschool activities last school year at Redwood Middle School. Although this person was under the supervision of a cleared afterschool coach at all times, this is not permissible.
We take all matters related to student safety and compliance very seriously. Out of an abundance of caution, and in keeping with our ongoing commitment to best practices, we are reviewing our current policies and procedures regarding background checks and clearance for participation in all programs. Our goal is to ensure that our processes continue to meet, and ideally exceed, accepted standards.
We will be engaging a third-party to independently review our processes and safeguards to ensure they align with industry standards and reflect best practices. We will keep the community updated as this work progresses.
Thank you for your continued partnership and trust.
Comparing these two official communications highlights just how much the information provided to our community changed once the formal investigation took place.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our students' safety.
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 #7:Three Years of Breaches, Public Record Debates, and the Accountability System at SUSD
Petition Update #5: Respect the Process. Protect the Students. End Bullying Now!
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
Petition Update #1: Beyond the Smoke and Mirrors: Facts, Accountability, and Student Safety
The Issue is presented: Petition to SUSD Trustees: Enforce Student Safety, Oversight & Accountability