Parents press Duarte Unified board on Mount Olive relocation and a kindergarten promotion dispute

During the public comment period at the Duarte Unified board meeting, residents and parents urged the board to address two community concerns: the planned relocation of Mount Olive students into Duarte High School and a separate request to promote a kindergarten student to first grade.

Miss Cabrales told the board she was hearing that at least two families were considering moving their children out of the district because Mount Olive students would be placed into Duarte High and teachers were being asked to clear space. She raised worries about losing local ball fields to outside teams and called on the board to develop a plan to retain local youth and sports sponsorships.

Two parents, Erica and Steven Cox, spoke about their daughter Daphne, who they say should be promoted from kindergarten to first grade. Erica Cox said the interim principal at Valley View "doesn't believe in allowing any children to move up early" despite objective data her family supplied; she told the board Daphne scored in the top 0.2 percent on an IQ test and has been accepted to the Davidson Institute's Young Scholars program and Mensa. At the meeting Daphne read a statement and solved math questions offered by her father in the public forum.

Superintendent Dr. Medrano acknowledged the comments and the board noted it is board practice not to engage during public comment but that staff may be directed to follow up. After the public comment period the board asked staff to make sure district staff follow up on the matters raised by the Cox family and other speakers.