Seattle School Board Director Chandra Hampson Loses Case Against the District

 In the category of "no one is surprised," yesterday a terse ruling was put forth by King County Superior Court:

1) Neither the decision of the District set forth in the outcome letter dated August 19, 2021 nor the action of the Seattle School Board at the September 9, 2021 meeting with respect to Director Hampson constitute arbitrary and capricious action subject to reversal by this Court; and 

2) This appeal is dismissed. 

It is SO ORDERED. (caps theirs)

And yet, Director Hampson has chosen to drag this on and she is seeking review by the Court of Appeals. That case was entered yesterday.

She has cost the district money because of HER demand for an investigation stemming from the letter of complaint filed by the two senior staffers.

She has cost the district money by filing her original case against the district's use of a Board policy in the investigation. That now has been dismissed.

She is continuing to cost the district money by appealing this case. 

Know what she could have done instead after the investigation? Gone to the two staffers privately and talked to them and then issue a public statement saying how she understands how her actions undermined the work and professional reputations of the two staffers, that she is sorry, that she has learned from the experience and wants to move on with them in the important work of SPS. 


Comments

Anonymous said…
Not her MO! That would require humility and actual leadership.

Hampson’s worldview is increasingly like many aggrieved Americans who - in spite of their relative privilege, positional authority and prosperity - cast themselves in the role of oppressed. She’s painted herself in a corner with her own flawed narrative.

Happy to see the district prevail in court. This business of reversing Board votes by democratically elected officials is murky, murky waters to be swimming in.

Thanks for reporting.

Mini Trump
Anonymous said…
When someone is found to have harassed/intimidated/bullied not one but two Black staffers, refuses to apologize for it, and instead goes to court to get the decision overturned, loses, and files a further appeal, there is a word for that behavior...

Racist.
Humility Needed said…
The goal of Hampson's self ordered Investigative report, court filing and appeal is nothing more than an attempt to save her ash. She has costed the district in excess of $120K and continues to run up the bill while students will loose funding.

Hampson's actions are consistent with her governance style. Hampson simply feels entitled and refuses to believe that she is wrong. Here is the problem: Hampson is in a position of authority. I believe her actions are hurting some students- especially when she is forcing the district to spend Operation dollars on her lawsuits.

I'm disappointed that Brandon Hersey nominated Hampson to be VP of the school board knowing the results of the Investigative Report and, now, court response. Board member Rankin goes along while Hampson filed a lawsuit against board members and district.
Anonymous said…
I struggle to understand her priorities and her decisions here. Clearly all of her actions related to this situation will ultimately hurt kids by diverting resources and bandwidth.

NE Parent
Anonymous said…
With her abysmal record of leadership, and documented record of harm to the school district and to its students, I'd be dumbfounded if she were not (1) recalled, or at the very least (2) resoundingly defeated were she to ever run again.

We need a petition asking for her immediate resignation to help the school district heal. Anyone have the time and energy to spearhead this?

What a catastrophe for Seattle schools and students.

BLUE SKY

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