After 11 months of dispute, the Poway Unified School District in San Diego County held a special meeting on April 30th, ultimately deciding to terminate the former district superintendent Marian Kim Phelps. This decision followed the board’s initial move in February to place her on paid leave.
Residents of Poway Unified School District and the Chair of the California Equal Rights Alliance, Xu Jiehe, described this as a significant victory for education accountability and transparency. The board took into consideration the community’s justified anger and made the right decision after weighing all the evidence from an independent investigation into the former superintendent’s misconduct.
Board Chair Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff, in a statement, expressed that from November 15th last year to April 18th this year, the investigation into Dr. Phelps’ behavior led the board to lose confidence and trust in her ability to continue serving as superintendent.
While board members claimed that the evidence against Dr. Phelps was “misinformation,” they acknowledged that the investigation revealed previously unknown evidence from firsthand witnesses that contradicted Dr. Phelps’ statements to the board, district staff, and the public.
Xu Jiehe remarked that the board members considered the evidence as “unknown” because they were unwilling to listen to statements from students, parents, and coaches. When conflicts of interest arose between students, parents, and district staff, these board members hid behind the banner of the so-called “district team” in an attempt to protect the superintendent, rather than fulfilling their duty to represent the interests of parents and students.
He mentioned that while each community situation is different, parents in local school districts may also face similar challenges or issues. When school board members fail to represent people’s interests or respect parents’ concerns, only with the active engagement and organization of enough local community members can public education be safeguarded and improved.
The incident started small but had significant repercussions due to the district’s improper handling. On May 30th, 2023, the girls’ softball team held an award celebration at an off-campus private venue, as some senior players were graduating and the team needed to select a new captain, a title that could provide college application advantages for high school students.
Dr. Phelps’ daughter, J.P., was part of the team and competing with another high school senior, Jane Doe, for the captaincy. J.P. later issued a written statement alleging that team members, especially Doe, cheered loudly for other award recipients but not for her, and accused them of “envy” and “hostility” towards her.
Both Dr. Phelps and her daughter believed that the aforementioned behavior of the team members was “carefully planned.” That evening, Dr. Phelps called one of the team members to discuss the situation, disparaged Doe, stating she was not deserving of the captaincy, and threatened to take further actions from the school’s perspective, including affecting their participation in the graduation ceremony. Subsequently, several graduating team members faced pressure from school leadership before the graduation ceremony, and the team’s two coaches did not have their contracts renewed for the next academic year.
Doe herself faced greater pressure and was prohibited from participating in team activities and extracurriculars as she refused to admit bullying J.P. In mid-August, Doe and her parents submitted a 135-page complaint to the school, including 26 testimonies and evidence. By the end of November, Doe and her parents filed a 93-page lawsuit against Superintendent Phelps, five board members, and several school officials.
In October, the board rejected Doe’s claims and stated they would not take any action against the superintendent. However, under pressure from residents, they eventually decided to conduct an independent investigation into the girls’ softball team incident, the superintendent, and school leadership’s behaviors.
Xu Jiehe supported the investigation, stating that when leaders engage in unethical behavior and scandal, it is worthwhile for the district to spend money on investigating and rebuilding public trust. “Fair evidence from the investigation can help board members regain the trust of students, parents, and the public,” he added.