In recent years, the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) in California has become embroiled in a series of incidents that raise serious concerns about how the district handles student behavior. From calling the police over minor infractions to expelling students for harmless comments, there is a growing pattern of the district criminalizing behaviors that should be addressed within the school environment. Many of these incidents have resulted in students being arrested or penalized for actions that are not illegal, raising questions about the fairness, legality, and impact of the district’s actions on its students. CNUSD said that in 2024 alone, they referred 322 children to law enforcement.
Criminalizing Innocent Behavior: A Pattern of Overreaction
One troubling example of CNUSD’s overreach occurred in 2024 when a student, just an elementary school child, was reported to the police for using inappropriate language during the school day. This situation underscores a growing trend in which seemingly minor student behavior is being escalated to a law enforcement referral.
The Case of Saying “Back Door” and a Distorted Sense of Threat
Perhaps the most absurd example of this overreaction is another case from 2024 involving an eighth-grade student who was both expelled and arrested for using the phrase “back door.” The school claimed that the mere use of the term, in combination with the fact that the student’s parents were legally registered gun owners, indicated a dangerous intent to harm others. This claim was made despite the complete lack of evidence or any context suggesting that the student had any violent intent. In fact, no physical threat was made, and no weapon was involved, yet the school district through their attorney Maria Gless from the F3Law firm in Corona California, asserted that the student’s words coupled with the fact that the parents were lawful gun owners, regardless of intent, were enough to be considered a threat. This troubling stance—where the focus is placed on the perception of fear rather than the actual context or intent—raises serious concerns about the boundaries of free speech and how school officials are defining “threats.”
Dress Code Enforcement and Police Misuse
In another instance, a former school resource officer for the Corona Police Department revealed that students at Corona Fundamental Intermediate School were being threatened by administrators that they could be arrested for not adhering to the school’s dress code, specifically for wearing baggy pants. This was problematic for many reasons, not the least of which is that dress code violations are not a matter for law enforcement to handle. According to the School Resource Officer we spoke to, he said local police had to intervene and tell the school to stop threatening students with arrests for what was, in fact, a school policy matter. Corona PD’s concern was that the school’s threats strains relationships between students and law enforcement, creating an atmosphere of fear and distrust.
A Disturbing Pattern of Misguided Priorities
These incidents are just a few examples of the ongoing issues within CNUSD. What is clear from these cases is that the district is failing to strike the proper balance between maintaining safety and over-policing its students. In many of these cases, the school officials’ first response has been to call the police rather than addressing the issue within the educational context. By criminalizing minor student behaviors, CNUSD is creating a culture where students feel that simple mistakes or misunderstandings could lead to arrest or severe punishment.
When asked about these incidents, the Superintendent’s office, led by Dr. Sam Buenrostro, said that they stand by the district’s actions. According to the office, their primary goal is to ensure the safety of all students. However, the line between safeguarding students and overreacting to harmless behavior is quickly becoming blurred. By calling the police over inappropriate language, misinterpreting harmless phrases, or threatening students with arrests for dress code violations, CNUSD is pushing the boundaries of appropriate school discipline. In doing so, they are causing more harm than good by creating fear and mistrust among students and the community.
The Bigger Picture: The Dangers of Criminalizing Childhood Behavior
The actions of CNUSD exemplify a broader national trend where school districts are criminalizing childhood behavior that should be addressed through guidance and discipline, not police involvement. The school-to-prison pipeline, which disproportionately impacts minority students, is becoming an unfortunate reality for students in districts like CNUSD. Instead of fostering a safe and supportive learning environment, the district’s policies appear to be pushing students into the criminal justice system for behavior that could be better addressed within the school setting.
Moving Forward: A Call for Change
It is essential for CNUSD and other school districts across the country to reevaluate their approach to student discipline. Rather than criminalizing childhood behaviors, schools should focus on providing the appropriate support, guidance, and education necessary to help students grow and learn from their mistakes. This includes implementing proper conflict resolution programs, providing mental health services, and, most importantly, respecting students’ rights to freedom of speech and expression.
As CNUSD continues to implement policies that have far-reaching consequences for the students, it is time for the district to reconsider its approach. Parents, students, and the community must push for a system that prioritizes education and rehabilitation over punishment and criminalization. Without this change, cases like those of the elementary school student and the eighth-grader accused of making threats will continue, and the harm caused by the over-policing of childhood behavior will only grow.
CNUSD must do better. It’s time to protect students’ rights and restore trust in the educational system.