More than 100 students called out sick from Valley View Elementary School in Richmond this week as their parents continue to butt heads with the school’s principal, according to reporting by KPIX.
The so-called "sickout" is part of a campaign to get the school’s principal, Petria Ross, removed, according to reporting by the station.
Parents' grievances allege that there have been multiple issues on campus in the last year, ranging from student safety to staffing problems. Despite the concerns parents have heard from their children, the school's principal has done little to communicate with the community, according to a Change.org petition calling for Ross' removal.
More than 600 people had signed the petition at the time of publication.
Along with the sickout, parents and students protested at the West Contra Costa Unified School District meeting Wednesday night, but district officials could not respond to comments made at the time.
"They’re afraid to go to school because of other issues on campus that we’re finding out through the kids," said one parent, Cheryl Fantom Jehan, at the meeting as reported by the station.
"Because of all this lack of communication that has gone on since the beginning of the year, this is where we’ve come to. We didn’t want it to come to this, but here we are," she said.
"We respect the right of parents to make their voices heard, and district leadership have been in frequent contact with Valley View parents and staff," said WCCUSD communications director Ryan Phillips in an interview with the station.
"WCCUSD Superintendent Dr. Chris Hurst has also visited the school on multiple occasions this school year to meet with staff," said Phillips.
The superintendent and district officials will meet with parents on Thursday, according to Phillips.
WCCUSD and Petria Ross did not respond to KCBS Radio's request for comment at the time of publication.
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