Parents urge Bear Valley Unified to revise special education handbook questionnaire, suggest secure digital delivery

During the public comment period, a resident raised concerns about a proposed questionnaire included at the end of the district’s draft parent handbook for special education services, saying the form seeks extensive personal information and should be revised and securely distributed.

Bobby Martinez, speaking during public comment, said he had reviewed the proposed handbook and was concerned about “the depth and breadth of the information that’s being requested and whether or not it’s necessary.” He told the board he had emailed a list of questions and requested that the district withhold implementing the revised questionnaire until stakeholders could review and respond.

Martinez suggested the district use available secure technology—specifically ParentSquare—to notify parents about questionnaire updates and collect responses, reducing the need for paper forms and protecting sensitive information. He asked the board to consider using secure electronic options rather than circulating paper forms that could be lost.

The comments occurred during the public comment portion of the meeting; district staff and the board did not take formal action on the handbook during the meeting. The meeting materials and staff follow-up were discussed later in agenda items connected to special education and transportation, and a board member said staff would review concerns with the parties who raised them.

The district’s public-comment instructions cited Brown Act limitations on action during the comment period and referenced legal codes when outlining the process.