SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — The superintendent of Poway Unified School District was fired Tuesday after an independent investigation into allegations of bullying.
Marian Phelps has been on administrative leave since February, after a lawsuit filed in November alleged she bullied students at Del Norte High School.
The school board voted unanimously to terminate Phelps with cause, effective immediately. A closed door session reviewed an independent investigation that included many documents and interviews with 41 witnesses, many of them students involved with the alleged bullying.
"Based on her conduct, as revealed to the Board through the investigation, the Board has lost all confidence and trust in Dr. Phelps’ ability to continue to serve as Superintendent, as well as in her ability to continue to work collaboratively with the Board as part of Poway Unified’s governance team," board president Michelle O'Connor-Ratcliff said in a statement.
Accusations claim superintendent threatened student athlete
The accusations stem from a May 2023 banquet for the softball team at Del Norte High School. A lawsuit claimed Phelps bullied students for not clapping as loud for her daughter at the banquet.
Marian Phelps was placed on administrative leave in February amid allegations of bullying and intimidating students on the Del Norte High School softball team for not clapping loudly enough for her daughter, who’s also on the team, during the softball awards banquet in May 2023.
Phelps is also accused of sending personal text messages to a softball player late at night, threatening the athlete.
Students said Phelps had wrongfully targeted them, even threatening their graduating privileges.
CBS 8 interviewed Phelps in November 2023 about the accusations, she claimed at the time that it had nothing to do with clapping and said she did nothing wrong.
"I've never threatened any student. I never would. I never talked to any student about making threats about them not graduating. All those allegations are completely false and fabricated," said Phelps.
In a November statement to district staff, Phelps said the allegations were "untrue."
"I was extremely saddened and shocked by the accusations," her statement read.
On Tuesday, the board said the independent investigation revealed previously unknown evidence that contradicted Phelps' statements to the board, district staff and public.
"Because the investigation involves student and personnel issues, in accordance with state and federal law, no additional details will be provided at this time," O'Connor-Ratcliff said.
Greg Mizel will remain interim superintendent.
The family of the student who is suing Phelps, the board and the school district sent CBS 8 the following statement Tuesday afternoon:
"Today, the PUSD School Board took a significant step by acknowledging their wrong doing and implementing measures we asked them to do nearly a year ago. We are relieved that they are starting to take responsibility for their actions. While this decision cannot undo the damage, unjust treatment, and hardships our daughter endured during her senior year, including the unwarranted removal of all her school related privileges, it is a move in the right direction."
A statement from the student's attorney called the board's decision a "victory" for students, families and employees.
WATCH RELATED: Lawsuit claims Poway Unified Superintendent targeted softball team over banquet applause