Hi Everyone!
I finally received a response since the Board Meeting 4/23/24.
Devon Rose called me 5/1/24 at 8:06AM to tell me that Superintendent Emy Flores will give me a response in the next few days.
I have also sent a follow up email to the Superintendent Dr. Flores, the board members, and Devon Rose.
In this email I CC’d those who wanted to be part of this thread.
Please see the email below:
Good Evening Dr. Flores,
I hope this email finds you well.
Following up, concerning my request to save Samantha Vuong an empty seat for her Class of 2024 WCHS Graduation;
Director Rose informed me in a call Wednesday morning, 5/1/24 at 8:06 AM, that my request has now been delegated to your responsibility.
Director Rose also informed me that you would follow up with a response regarding my request, within the next few days.
While advocating for my sister's seat at graduation, I have met many concerned community members who question why my request is so difficult to be addressed by WCUSD.
I am glad to hear that my request is now in your hands, and that you are doing your due diligence per policy AR 2122 (c).
The Public Petition (Save Samantha A Seat!), is currently at 1,208 signatures with supporters from all over Los Angeles County.
Concerning the photograph opportunity that WCHS and WCUSD members took at my sister's funeral. It was distasteful and an ignorant decision made by those present.
I would like to clarify who witnessed this event: many personal friends, family members, students of WCHS, and other attendees.
This situation occurred after the service, and before commuting to the burial, during the time that the immediate family was receiving condolences inside the building.
Michael Flowers, current WCUSD board member, was confirmed to be in attendance for the photo opportunity, alongside others smiling for the photo outside the Hua Yuan - Hall of Grace(3890 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601).
I would like to remind you that I requested a response before the next WCUSD Public Board meeting (currently scheduled for 5/14/24).
If I do not receive a response by 5/13/24, I will be attending the public board meeting once again, with more support.
Please note that when contacting me, I would like to inform you that my personal cell phone is recorded for my personal records and protection.
If you do not consent to this recording then please contact me via email, or we may schedule a time to meet in person.
CC'ed in this email, you will see but a few supporters who wanted to be part of this thread.
Please see below a few statements (from PDF attachment Statements.WC2024) below:
Joselyn Rivas - 2018 WCHS Alumni
“We all need to be remembered that’s how we stay alive”
Lina Shahsavari - 2020 WCHS Alumni
“Sam deserves a seat. She had touched all out hearts”
Sophia Garcia - WCHS Student
“I was in ASB with Sam and she was dearly loved, we miss you!!”
Bobbie Madrid - 2018 WCHS Alumni
“Sam deserves to be up there.
She has done so much in the school and community.
She has always been so happy and smiling and had always worked really hard.
Allow her to sit with those who she stayed around and helped out so much”
Jelani Enoch - West Covina Resident ; Cousin
“The graduation ceremony is especially a time to acknowledge her.
Sam deserves to be recognized for her outstanding efforts in the WCHS community and on campus, where her remarkable contributions have made a lasting impact.
To dismiss any effort to acknowledge Sam for her graduation speaks volumes about the district’s willingness to overlook a highly involved student on campus.
This decision highlights a deliberate attempt to maintain a false positive image of WCHS students and reveals clear bias regarding who is deemed deserving of acknowledgement.
The lack of fairness and inclusivity in the administration and staff’s stance is deeply concerning.”
If considering reaching out to specialized organizations and professions, outside of the district, as I have previously proposed with handouts on 4/23/24;
Please see below for the list of resources (both National & Local):
Janel Cubbage (Suicidologist; Specializing in: Women of Color)
Richard Lieberman (Los Angeles County’s Office of Education)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Citrus Counseling Center
Parents’ Place Family Resource and Empowerment Center
East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC)
Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition
Forefront Suicicde Prevention
Underwood and Associates Lifelines
Please see below the list of sources, that I previously provided paper copies of on 4/23/24, for your convenience:
https://www.sgvcitywatch.com/west-covina/id-revealed-of-west-covina-high-school-student-who-died
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-30/dead-at-16
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/the-lost-graduate-remembering-a-student-gunned-down-at-school/2022/06
https://www.kcra.com/article/rocklin-teen-who-died-fentanyl-poisoning-honored-graduation-ceremony/36636921
https://abc30.com/zoe-salinas-fatal-shooting-memory-honored-graduating-class/13357402/
https://www.kolotv.com/2023/06/04/high-school-senior-killed-shooting-hours-before-graduation/
https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/mar/12/no-right-answer-should-graduation-ceremonies-honor-students-whove-died/#:~:text=Two%20years%20ago%2C%20a%20Hanford,by%20suicide%20his%20junior%20year
https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/mar/12/no-right-answer-should-graduation-ceremonies-honor-students-shov-died/
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1711568192/rsdedu/kzddmhmdywr3ts832fau/31224.pdf
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future Dr. Flores.
Best,
Jade Vuong
—END EMAIL—
Thank you to everyone who helped with information when I reached out, to those who commented your voice in the petition, and for wanting to advocate as well.
What you can do if you want to help:
Call WCUSD at +1 (626) 939-4600, go to ext: 1002 and leave a message with Dr. Flores’s secretary Monica Kelly, expressing how you feel about how WCUSD is treating this situation.