In a recent call to action, State schools superintendent Tom Horne has urged for the resignation of two Cartwright Elementary School District Board members, Lydia and Cassandra Hernandez, after they incited a security disruption at Maryvale High School. This comes in the wake of a devastating tragedy at the school, where a student was previously murdered in a classroom. The school still reels from the event, and Horne's demand highlights a bounty of frustration and disappointment in the wake of the board members' actions.
"This was an outrageous and indefensible stunt," Horne stated, as per a statement on the Arizona Department of Education website. The school's precarious healing process was undoubtedly to furtherly be complicated by such recklessness. Lydia Hernandez, who also serves within the Arizona House of Representatives, and her accomplice were accused of "attempting to circumvent our safety systems and knowingly bringing an unauthorized weapon onto campus," referring to a box cutter, according to the Phoenix Union High School District.
The incident underscores a severe lapse in judgment, especially considering that both board members have no children enrolled in the Phoenix Union High School District. In an age where school security is paramount, such actions by school board members, those entrusted to advocate for the wellbeing of our children, strike as deeply ironic and misaligned with the trajectory of trust parents, and society, expect from their local officials.
Horne didn't hesitate to lay bare his thoughts: "The safety of our campuses is an absolute priority. Security personnel and safety officers need to do their jobs, and they cannot be diverted from protecting the campus by a juvenile and unnecessary act such as this," as mentioned on the Arizona Department of Education. The sentiment reflects an absolute refusal to accept that board members could so callously disregard safety protocols, especially at a time when the wound at Maryvale High School remains tender and raw. Horne underscores that the Cartwright Board must be composed of individuals who are unequivocally committed to school safety.
