Fwd: Continuation of 12/12/23 Public Comments - OCR & Equity Misrepresentation by LAPS District Leaders
Luckie Daniels
From: Luckie Daniels <luckie...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 11:11 AM
Subject: Continuation of 12/12/23 Public Comments - OCR & Equity Misrepresentation by LAPS District Leaders
To: <public....@laschools.net>
Cc: Miriam Jones <ilove...@gmail.com>
Control the narrative: to shape or influence the way a story or situation is perceived or understood by others.
It is easy to attempt to control the narrative of a racial harassment incident that required intervention by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) if you (LAPS District Administrators) intentionally concealed the discrimination matter from the Los Alamos community and took extensive measures to prevent the race harassment incident, OCR mandated intervention and findings from ever being disclosed to the public.
Making public statements that misrepresent the actions taken by OCR and the interruption [by the LAPS District] of the investigation in progress to a community you withheld this matter from is unethical and should be, unlawful.
My daughter has been referred to as "Hershey" and "Monkey" by LAPS students and she is a LAPS Athlete. Given between 2022 and 2023 the community experienced racial injustice incidents involving LAPS students chanting "Go back to the res!" (LMS Football / Santa Fe Indian School) and appearing in "wife beater" t-shirts and shower caps for a self-defined "White Out" (LAHS Volleyball), how could LAPS District leadership determine the OCR matter involving Miriam Jones and her then 8th grade son, not to be an opportunity to lead a MUCH NEEDED Equity dialogue with LAPS students, parents and community members?
Did LAPS District leaders report to OCR the multiple equity violations reported by LAHS student Olivia Hamilton last January - https://losalamosreporter.com/2023/01/05/racism-ableism-homophobia-increasing-at-los-alamos-public-schools? Did LAPS investigate and consult with OCR on this matter and the many others reported, which include mine? If yes, where are the investigation findings that should reflect the clarifications and process rigor documented in the District's Resolution Agreement?
Compare the LAPS District statements posted below against the Office of Civil Rights Resolution Agreement Legal Analysis and Conclusion.
These messages are not a District oversight. They reflect an abuse of afforded status and efforts to control the narrative of critical equity information the LAPS community was never provided.
Miriam Jones and Luckie Daniels
LAPS Board President Antonio Jaurigue Statement - Los Alamos Reporter, 10/10/23
"In late 2021, an incident was alleged regarding student misconduct and the district investigation procedures that prompted a citizen of Taos to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. This complaint prompted an investigation by their office. The Los Alamos Public School District cooperated fully with the investigation and decided to voluntarily enter into a resolution to address the complaint despite there being no OCR findings during their initial investigation phase. This included enhanced and continued training for staff, and also updating the discrimination policy.
The School Board was made aware of this issue when the complaint was first filed, and updated when we entered into the joint resolution. There was discussion surrounding the next steps, as well as the impact on the students. Should this complaint have evolved into an OCR finding or legal action, our premature public disclosure may have caused undue stress or harm to the accused, or compromised an investigation with rumors." - LAPS Board President, Antonio Jaurigue, Los Alamos Reporter, 10/10/2023
LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy Statement - Los Alamos Reporter, 10/09/23
"On March 16, 2022, Los Alamos Public Schools received notification that a parent from Taos, New Mexico had filed a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in which she alleged that the Los Alamos Public Schools had failed to appropriately investigate or address her allegation that at an October 2021 sporting event, an LAPS player had made a racial slur towards a Taos player.
When LAPS received the initial complaint in October of 2021, about a week after that sporting event had taken place, the District took action to investigate and provided the parent with the investigation findings. Though all team players were reminded of conduct expectations, no disciplinary action taken against the accused student because there was no evidence found to substantiate the claim. That investigation also found that several Los Alamos players and coaches had complained during the game that some adults in the stands on the opposing side had made inappropriate comments and racial slurs towards our players. Those claims also could not be corroborated.
While we believed we had promptly and properly investigated to the best of our ability after learning about the allegation, LAPS also fully cooperated with the OCR investigation and made players, coaches, and other staff available for interviews. LAPS and OCR discussed how we might improve our policies and regulations and discussed more detailed training for our staff on how to handle reports of racism, discrimination, or bullying. Ultimately, the OCR and LAPS entered into a resolution agreement that included making revisions to certain LAPS policies and regulations, and also to provide OCR-approved training for staff and for administrators on how to investigate these types of complaints. We have completed those resolution activities and are pleased that the matter was closed successfully on September 11, 2023, with no findings against the District. - LAPS Superintendent, Jennifer Guy, Los Alamos Reporter, 10/09/23
