Poway Unified School District trustees are seeking an independent investigation into concerns about the Del Norte High School softball program, following accusations that the district’s top administrator abused her power.
The school board held a special meeting Wednesday after parents, students and coaches raised their allegations at a school board meeting last week, charging that Superintendent Marian Kim Phelps harassed students because she believed they had not clapped enough when her daughter, a pitcher on the team, won an award at a banquet in May.
Del Norte softball coach Tom Peronto told trustees at the meeting that Phelps contacted students late at night after the awards ceremony, threatened graduating seniors that they could not participate in graduation unless they apologized and saying junior players would lose their right to participate in school activities. Phelps has denied those allegations.
School board President Darshana Patel read a statement from the board Wednesday after the closed session. She said the board “is aware that some members of the public are making misinformed claims about student and employee conduct involving the Del Norte High School softball program.”
Patel said the board had met three times about the matter and had reviewed hundreds of pages of witness statements and supporting documents related to the Del Norte administration’s investigation of and issues regarding the softball program.
She said the board “took action within the purview of our authority regarding employee conduct.” She did not elaborate.
“Our priority in classrooms and in school extracurricular activities is to provide an environment where all students can have a positive experience,“ Patel said.
Supervisor Phelps said after the meeting that an investigation is the best way to figure out how to move forward.
“I do think there is a lot of misinformation out there,” said Phelps, who has led the 36,000-student district since April 2017. “I never threatened any student. I never would have done that. I never made any statement about not graduating. All of those allegations are completely false.”
About 50 people attended the morning meeting, with three people expressing support for Phelps — among them her daughter, Jessica — during the public comment period, and three people criticizing her leadership.
Afterward, the board went into closed session to discuss what was listed on the agenda as an employee evaluation of the superintendent.
Jessica Phelps told trustees she couldn’t stay silent after the Nov. 9 meeting.
The issue was not how much applause she got at the banquet, Phelps said. Instead, she said, it was that she had been “bullied, publicly humiliated and targeted” before and during the event. The prevailing attitude was that “girls will be girls,” she said.
Phelps said the fact that she was bullied was validated in the investigation process.
“My mom never threatened any students,” Phelps said. “My mom loves kids. Yes, I am the superintendent’s daughter, but I am also a student who deserves kindness. Everyone needs to move on and to repair what has already been damaged.”
At the Nov. 9 meeting, Alan Stockton, a softball coach at Del Norte for 14 years, told the board that girls who have played softball for years are now contemplating not playing.
“Unfortunately, these girls don’t know who they can trust moving forward because of how the situation has been handled,” Stockton said. “These girls shouldn’t be dealing with this situation because of how grown-ups have acted. Again, it’s one thing to handle drama among teenage girls, we expect that — but to have it made by a powerful person is preposterous.”
Stockton said Wednesday that he supported an independent investigation.
“As long as they pick a bipartisan investigator and not someone picked by (Phelps) or the board,” Stockton said.
“They’re saying we as parents and students … gave misinformation, that’s just total nonsense,” he said. “There was nothing wrong with the softball program until this situation arose.”
Michael Roberts, the parent of three former Del Norte High students, told trustees Wednesday that it has been frustrating to see the controversy’s impact on students.
Roberts said his youngest daughter, who was on the softball team last year, told him Jessica Phelps was “cheered enthusiastically” at the banquet and was a valuable member of the softball team. He said he wanted the trustees to get all the facts and to talk to all the coaches and students who attended the banquet.
James Jimenez, Poway Unified associate superintendent of personnel support services, said it was “truly shocking” to hear abuse-of-power allegations against Phelps.
“Her clear focus is on the students,” Jimenez said. “Throughout her leadership she has always been driven by her moral compass, including due process. She is a highly effective leader.”
Jesse Luna, a school counselor and club adviser at Del Norte High, expressed concern about the effect the escalating softball team issues could have on Jessica Phelps’ mental health and the social and emotional health of all the players. Public pressure, media pressure and other pressures could lead to anxiety and depression, Luna said.
“I believe everyone needs to take responsibility for their part and resolve this issue,” he said. “We need to stop the issue before it escalates further. It’s time to start the healing process and support students.”
