Students at Dinuba High School walked out of class during lunchtime on Thursday, gathering outside the campus to demand answers and accountability over allegations involving a school employee. Students said photos and messages allegedly involving a school counselor had begun circulating on social media, though the underlying allegations have not been independently verified.
“As a student, I feel completely betrayed,” Dinuba High student Nayome Vallejo told YourCentralValley.com, which first reported on the walkout. Vallejo said she felt strongly that the alleged conduct was wrong, and some of her fellow students demanded that the employee involved be held accountable if wrongdoing is established.
Vallejo said students should be able to attend school without worrying about their safety or whether trusted adults can be trusted, and that she believes no one should have to watch their surroundings out of fear of being watched by predators. She also said the employee deserves jail time and should no longer be allowed around children or work in a school setting, according to the outlet's report.
District Confirms Report to Law Enforcement
Dinuba Unified School District said in a statement released Wednesday that student health and welfare are the district's highest priority. Superintendent Marti Kochhevar said the district takes concerns regarding student safety and allegations of employee misconduct very seriously, per the outlet's separate report on the district's statement.
The district said the matter has been reported to law enforcement. Its statement did not identify the employee involved or provide specific details about the allegation, and it encouraged anyone with information about possible sexual misconduct on campus or in district programs or activities to report it to Title IX Coordinator and Assistant Superintendent Dave Holtermann as soon as possible.
Dinuba Police Chief Abel Iriarte confirmed that the department is currently investigating the matter after the outlet contacted the Dinuba Police Department about the allegations. No further details on the status of that investigation have been released.
A Pattern Seen Beyond Dinuba
Student walkouts over alleged misconduct by school staff have surfaced elsewhere in recent weeks. On October 22, students at Fort Vancouver High School in Washington state walked out of school as police investigated what was described as possible sexual contact inside a locker room, according to KOIN.
That report said hundreds of students protested, alleging a lack of transparency, honesty and accountability by school leaders, and that the school canceled the remainder of its varsity football season, initially citing injuries and limited player availability. The Fort Vancouver case remains a separate matter and is not evidence about what happened in Dinuba.
In Dinuba, no information has been released about the investigation's status or outcome, whether any charges or discipline have followed, or how many students took part in Thursday's walkout. For now, families are left waiting on the police department and the school district for further word.
