Parents, staff urge investigation into alleged abuse and retaliation at Martin Luther King School

Several public commenters urged the Board to investigate serious allegations at Martin Luther King School, including physical abuse of students, retaliation against staff and removal of school programs.

Steve Zeltzer of United Public Workers for Action told the board he has distributed a document from Jeannie Pon and said "there was physical abuse at that school, by Natalia Everhard, the, principal. There's a video of it." He also alleged the principal "gave away the band equipment and destroyed the music program and the art program," and called for a criminal investigation by the district attorney into the principal and assistant superintendent.

Toby Kane, a district employee who said he has worked for the district since 1971 and is now fighting a dismissal charge, described being injured at MLK, being placed in a modified work position without training and experiencing harassment. He said police reports he requested were not provided and that narratives were altered to make him appear culpable.

Linda Cooks, a former teacher at Martin Luther King School, described seeing students who reported they had been "set on" by the principal and asked the board, "Where's the video?" She also raised concerns about facility conditions, including mice, and said children were not being treated fairly.

Board members did not announce immediate action in response to public comment during the time allotted. The comments were entered into the public record; speakers requested accountability from the superintendent and the board and asked that the district attorney, as well as internal processes, address the allegations.