A California school district fired its superintendent this week. It’s been almost a year since students claimed he would be barred from attending her graduation ceremony for not clapping loudly for his daughter at a sports banquet.
The Board of Trustees, which oversees the 35,000-student Poway Unified School District in San Diego, voted unanimously Tuesday in a closed session to fire Marian Kim Phelps. The Los Angeles Times reported.
Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliffe, the board’s president, said in a statement following the investigation into Dr. Phelps’ conduct that began on November 15, the board has “absolutely no confidence in Dr. Phelps’ ability to continue to serve as superintendent. “I lost trust,” the statement read.
“The investigation uncovered previously unknown evidence from witnesses with first-hand knowledge that contradicts Dr. Phelps’ statements and claims to the Board, district staff, and the public.” said the statement.
Phelps said members of the softball team at Del Norte High School, Poway Unified Campus in San Diego, approached her daughter after she was named MVP at a team banquet on May 30, according to players, coaches and teachers. He said he felt that the applause was not loud enough.
The players allege that the so-called minor injury prompted Phelps to launch an investigation and threaten to ban the senior from attending his graduation ceremony.
Mr. Phelps, who also has a pending lawsuit over the matter, could not be reached for comment.
