Parent alleges a teacher grabbed her seven‑year‑old; board cautioned against on‑record staff discussion

During public comment on June 3, parent De'arra Mack addressed the board about an incident she said occurred May 22 involving her seven‑year‑old daughter at Dr. John Winslow Elementary School. Mack said her child reported that a teacher, identified in her remarks as Mrs. Hammer, grabbed and pulled the child’s arm while directing an apology to another student. Mack described the emotional impact on her daughter and said that, when she and the child’s father met with school staff, the teacher denied placing hands on the child and left the meeting; Mack said parents left feeling their concerns had not been meaningfully acknowledged.

Mack said she was not seeking punishment but asked the board for acknowledgement, empathy and for the district to ensure children who report feeling scared are heard and supported. A grandmother who identified herself as Ka Mack spoke in support and urged the board to look into the matter.

The board solicitor reminded members that staff were named during public comment and that board members should refrain from discussing personnel matters during that public comment period. There was no public record of a board vote or further comment on the allegation during the meeting, and the board moved into executive session later in the agenda for matters including pending litigation and employment issues.

Because this was public comment raising an allegation about an individual staff member, the meeting record shows the parents’ account and the teacher’s denial as presented by the parent; the board recorded a procedural caution about discussing staff names and did not take additional public action at the meeting.