SAN DIEGO — Parents and students packed into the Poway Unified School District board meeting Thursday to demand the district take action against the Superintendent, Marian Kim Phelps, for harassment.
“We’re fighting the whole Poway School District and the top dog in the chain, I mean, she has all the power," said Del Norte High School softball coach, Alan Stockton.
Phelps is accused 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 last May.
Kim is also accused of sending personal text messages to a softball player late at night, threatening the athlete.
“She’s got to recognize that she has to be careful in her position. For her to go after students in the district in any way is just unforgivable," said parent, Byron Yafuso.
Students say Phelps has wrongfully targeted them, even threatening their graduating privileges.
"None of us can believe that our superintendent, a mom on the team, could threaten so many student-athletes with being able to attend their graduation over something that they did not do. Her continued presence at our schools’ events causes many of us to feel stress and anxiety due to fear of intimidation." said one student.
“It’s a huge injustice to them, it’s their senior year," added Bibler.
In November, the board decided to launch an independent investigation into the Del Norte softball program, but parents say the board should be investigating the superintendent instead.
“It’s very frustrating, she’s still sitting there getting a paycheck, she’s not on administrative leave. The board has had mounds of evidence for months," continued Bibler.
Those present at the meeting say the district has retaliated against students and staff for coming forward.
“I’m not going to be invited back as a softball coach this year. The other coach stood up for this, he has been fired and so I’m in the same predicament and I think the same thing is going to happen," said coach Stockton, who's been with the program for 13 years.
In a statement, Board President, Michelle O'Connor-Ratcliff says:
"The investigation is being conducted thoroughly and independently. The Board is confident that when it concludes, investigators will have examined all facts and evidence and interviewed all those having relevant, firsthand knowledge."
CBS 8 interviewed Phelps last November about the accusations, she claimed at the time that it had nothing to do with clapping and said she did nothing wrong.
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