SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD: Investigation clears superintendent of bias, retaliation

An investigation into the Coupeville school superintendent for alleged bias and retaliation largely exonerated him, according to the report on the inquiry. Also, the School Board may have violated the state Open Public Meetings Act when the majority took action on a press release outside of public meetings.

The press release expressed strong support of Superintendent Steve King while also criticizing Board Member Sherry Phay for “the manner in which this investigation and Superintendent King were characterized … in her prior communication to district employees.” Phay sent an email to leaders of the teachers union in which she disclosed “the investigation into Steve King based on allegations of ‘creating a culture of fear of retaliation’ as evidenced by acts of misogyny, narcissism, gas-lighting and literal threats to employment status.” During a closed door Board session, Phay disclosed that numerous employees had reported to her concerns about King being misogynistic and retaliatory.

School Board President Kathleen Anderson said board members were surprised by the allegations and the board hired Seattle attorney Jessie Harris to investigate. Following the release of the investigators report, Anderson commented the board was pleased with the result and that “we have absolute confidence in Steve to move us forward.”

Some of the allegations that Attorney Harris highlighted in his report involved an equity committee that King, a white man, established with board agreement and made himself co-chairperson. Prior to the committee interviewing a candidate for a diversity and equity consultant position, King shared his impressions of the woman. He said the candidate corrected him when he mentioned the George Floyd “incident,” saying he should refer to it as “murder.” A staff member recalled King saying “something to the effect that, in his position, he was not accustomed to being corrected by a woman, much less an African American woman,” the report states.

Another staff member complained that King used the term “Gestapo” during a staff meeting in reference to how the county Public Health officials planned to enforce social distancing rules in the schools.  For all the details, see the story by Jessie Stensland in the South Whidbey Record.

On the Ballot in 2021:

COUPEVILLE School District #204

• Director, Position 2: Venessa Matros
• Director, Position 3: Sherry Phay
• Director, Position 5 (At Large): Kathleen Anderson