Parents and staff urge transparency on staffing decisions; board directs administrative follow-up on complaints

Multiple members of the public used the Feb. 27 public-comment period to raise personnel and student-safety concerns and to request greater transparency from the district.

Latoya Morgan, a media specialist at Carver STEAM Magnet, told the board she and colleagues were surprised by the way staff were selected for assignments at the new Carver Washington school and asked for the selection criteria and transparency on the process. Morgan said she and other staff have not received evaluations this year and that colleagues felt “humiliated” by how transition offers were communicated. She asked the board to provide the selection criteria and to make the process more transparent so staff can address any deficiencies.

A parent speaking as Patricia Parlier told the board about repeated incidents she described involving a teacher at Southwest Magnet High School that she said affected her child, including an instance she said involved denying restroom access. Board members advised the parent that public comment is not the forum for naming district staff but directed the parent to meet immediately with Chief Academic Officer Melissa Goudy so the district could investigate. Dr. Wright asked the parent to meet with Chief Academic Officer Goudy after the public comment period, and Goudy agreed to take the concern and follow up.

Superintendent Wright and other board members emphasized the district’s role is to hear comments, then channel personnel or alleged misconduct concerns to the appropriate administrators for investigation, rather than resolving them on the spot. The board also discussed the emotional toll on staff and the need for professional courtesy when principals or administrators communicate personnel assignments.