Mix-up cancels Sopori meeting

An meeting to discuss the recent lockdowns at Sopori School in Amado was canceled Thursday night because of a mix-up between the Sahuarita Unified School District and the group initiating the meeting.

Amado resident Alvin Bauer publicized a meeting, which he said would allow concerned citizens to address the U.S. Border Patrol on the events that caused the emergency lockdowns at the elementary school.

The lockdowns occurred in late April and early May, when drug smugglers barricaded themselves inside a nearby home and when a vehicle driven by a smuggler crashed in front of the school.

Bauer says he submitted the appropriate paperwork to secure use of the school’s library for the meeting, but Assistant Sahuarita Superintendant Manny Valenzuela says the district never received it.

“Outside groups are required to carry a liability insurance policy for $1 million that lists the Sahuarita Unified School District as a secondary party for things like personal injury and damage to property,” Valenzuela said.

The Border Patrol would not have been responsible for the payment, because Bauer and others initiated the meeting, said Valenzuela.

“Fox, KVOA, Star, Green Valley News — the message got out there (about a meeting), but no request had been submitted to the School District — that’s unfortunate.”

Several meeting organizers met in front of the school Thursday evening along with a television news crew that had planned to cover the event. Some parents arrived at the school but left when they realized the meeting was canceled.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726

Reporter Phil Franchine contributed to this report. Comment on this story online at www.gvnews.com.