Parent tells Santa Fe school board he faced retaliation after reporting student harassment

At the Santa Fe Public Schools board meeting a parent, Kobe Hanson, used the public forum to say a district employee who reported harassment experienced retaliation. "What are the consequences for a district employee when they report instances of harassment of a student by a teacher?" Hanson asked. He then named two district employees—Janice Ulibati (Kearney principal) and Megan Goddard (HR specialist)—and described actions he characterized as retaliation: reassignment of responsibilities two weeks before the end of the school year, restrictions on contact with students, required disciplinary meetings, and the shutdown of district email access for his wife and daughter.

Hanson cited the district handbook's reporting procedures and a section that warns retaliation against a good-faith reporter may result in discipline up to suspension or termination. He also told the board he had not been interviewed during the district's investigatory process and alleged that emails he had sent to board members had been removed by an HR staffer. Board staff thanked him for coming; members reiterated the limits of public forum (the board cannot take action on items not on the agenda) and said staff would follow up.

Hanson's statements in the meeting are allegations; the board did not take immediate action at the public forum. Staff and board members noted that the handbook requires district investigations after complaints and that retaliation is not permitted under policy, but the transcript records Hanson’s claims and the board’s acknowledgment only.

The district did not provide an on-the-record response during the meeting; staff thanked Hanson for bringing the matter forward and noted the board may not act on non-agenda items in public forum.