Elizabeth Primo, UniServ director with the Washington Education Association, told the Issaquah School District board that formal and informal reports describe a pattern of "mistreatment of staff and students, the inappropriate verbal and physical interactions, and intimidation and fear of retaliation" at Endeavor Elementary. "Since the current principal assumed leadership at Endeavor, approximately 80% of the staff have left the building," she said, adding that the turnover "is not typical and reflects a deeper systemic issue."

Bridget Chapet, who said she is a parent of two Endeavor students, said a petition circulated this week gathered more than 543 signatures, including 19 current Endeavor staff members. "We respectfully call on the district to take two immediate steps," she said, reading an abridged text of the petition. "First, communicate current safety measures. Share what monitoring and safety protocols are in place at Endeavor along with the metrics being used to assess staff and student safety and overall school climate. Second, commission an independent investigation and launch a third‑party review into safety concerns and harassment allegations."

Other speakers at public comment described similar worries. "This is not simply about staff morale. It's about the health, safety, and learning environment of our children," said Elena Lane, identifying herself as the mother of a first grader at Endeavor. "We need transparency, accountability, and commitment to change," she told the board.

Anna Shodice, a parent, asked why the principal has not been placed on paid leave while an independent review proceeds. "So that way, if she's innocent, she won't be penalized. And if she's guilty, she won't be — she really, you know, if the conclusion is that she really committed those acts, she wouldn't be close to the students and endangering not only the students, but also the staff members," Shodice said. The meeting record does not show a subsequent board decision to change the principal's status.

Other speakers urged clearer channels for reporting concerns and stronger protections against retaliation. "Many staff feel that anonymity is not truly protected and that retaliation is inevitable," Primo said. Several parents and former staff described leaving the school for safety or well‑being reasons and asked the district to ensure impartial investigations and consistent application of accountability.

Some public commenters also offered counterpoints. Durja Lakshmi, who identified herself as a new paraeducator at Endeavor, said she felt safe at the school and had experienced "love and compassion" from supervisors. Substitute teacher Mindy Mone described leaving Endeavor for personal reasons but said she misses "the community and the family and those teachers that are sitting there right now."

The board did not take formal action on the specific requests during public comment. After the public speakers finished, the board moved to approve the consent agenda by voice vote. Board meeting materials include a note that the petition was circulated and that the petition text called for public disclosure of safety protocols and an external investigation; staff responses to those requests were not recorded in the meeting transcript.