Seattle Schools Updates

The Seattle Times has a story about the Anitra Jones issue. The headline:

Here are the documents SPS says mandate keeping controversial principal

The backstory (in case you missed it because there were several investigations):

An SPS spokesperson confirmed the district received complaints about this alleged “toxic” environment on June 13, 2023, and subsequently hired an independent contractor to investigate the allegations surrounding Jones’ disciplinary policies and allegedly discriminatory conduct. That investigator’s report, dated Sept. 27, 2024, concluded “that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate any of those allegations,” according to the district spokesperson.  

In addition, the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction investigated community complaints from Rainier View families in 2023. The state agency conducted three investigations into allegations that Rainier View staff failed to appropriately identify and support students requiring special education services. The OSPI investigations identified a violation related to special education disciplinary requirements, and mandated that staff — including Jones — complete a training, and develop a schedule to provide “compensatory education” for students whose rights had been violated. 

In November 2024, a state labor relations adjudicator found that Jones unlawfully discriminated against three Rainier View staff members for protected union activity.

It turns out that former superintendent Brent Jones did put in a letter to her in her personnel file about her placement:

The Seattle Times obtained a copy of that agreement from former superintendent Brent Jones (no relation to Anitra Jones), and a copy of Anitra Jones’ current contract, through public records requests. 

On first read, neither document appears to explicitly compel the district to place Anitra Jones in a principalship for the 2026-27 school year, but legal experts point to three portions of state law that they say, when read together, explain why the district’s hands are tied. 

In January 2025, then-Superintendent Brent Jones wrote a letter to Anitra Jones that read: “For the 2025-2026 school year, I will evaluate principal position openings and assign you a building to be a principal. The assignment will likely be back to an elementary school, but I reserve the right to place you into another school level (e.g., middle or alternative), if such a principal placement is in the best interest of SPS and matches our organizational needs.”

So he left before he made that placement but, as the Times notes, it was for one year. Maybe that Superintendent had his doubts.

Legal notes:

The letter Brent Jones wrote is not an official employee contract, nor was it approved or considered by the School Board, as principal hires fall under the superintendent’s purview. 

Multiple lawyers who reviewed the Brent Jones letter said it was unusual, and not a typical part of the district’s hiring or appointment protocols. 

However, in a statement provided to The Seattle Times, spokespeople for Seattle Public Schools note that Washington law recognizes the concept of “promissory estoppel,” which means that if someone makes a promise on which another person reasonably relies, the promise may be legally enforceable. The district does not concede that this principle applies in this situation, but stated that “this is the legal theory at issue with respect to the letter” from the former superintendent.

Okay but I note that the document also says, based on the issues that the state labor relations adjudicator found that Jones would be working with Jon Hafaker, SPS Labor and Employee relations. The Superintendent also notes that she has already made progress on that work.

More legalities:

Legal experts point to a section of Washington code that establishes a concept known as “continuing contract” — meaning certificated school district employees (including principals) have one-year contracts, which are expected to be renewed automatically unless the district has sufficient cause not to renew. 

Another section of Washington code applies uniquely to Seattle Public Schools — as it’s the only public school district in the state with more than 35,000 students enrolled. According to that law, any principal who has worked at the district for at least three consecutive school years cannot be transferred to a subordinate position unless the principal’s annual performance evaluation indicates such a demotion is appropriate.

Finally, a third section of code outlines what school districts must do if there is probable cause to terminate a teacher, principal or other district employee who holds a professional certification — including providing formal notice of the probable cause, and a hearing to address the findings, where the employee may have legal representation. 

The Times also reports that they looked at Jones' file and there are no documents related to the issues at Rainier View ES. I find that stunning. Maybe Principal Jones had friends in high places.

I do find it interesting that also at this time - as I reported yesterday - the Board will have an Executive Session about someone who got demoted. No idea if the two things are related.

Also in the Times today:

Jury finds former SPS coach not guilty of child rape

Another head scratcher because the district is paying out $16M to this plaintiff (who was in middle school at the time) based on her claims of rape and sexual abuse by not just this coach, Walter Jones but another one, Marvin Hall, as well. 

Important to note:

Before the sexual abuse allegedly started, the former student was identified by the district as particularly vulnerable and suffering from an emotional disability. The complaint defined emotional disability as “a broad term used in the field of special education to describe a range of mental health issues, including emotional instability, behavioral challenges, social difficulties, and academic struggles.” She had an individualized education plan to provide her academic and social support in school.

This was the second trial for Hall and the first trial ended with a hung jury. 

Two judges presided over Jones’ trials — and one key difference was that in the first trial, the defense was not allowed to cross-examine the former student about previous sexual assaults committed against her by other men while cross-examination was allowed in the second trial, court records show.

What happened in the case with the other coach Marvin Hall?

The lawsuit claimed Hall, another coach, entered an abusive relationship with the former student and sexually exploited her from when she was 17 until after her 21st birthday. Hall, then 43, was the assistant coach of Garfield’s boys basketball team when he met the former student and later assisted Garfield’s girls team, the lawsuit said.

Hall pleaded guilty last June to sexual misconduct with a minor and was released from the King County Jail in December, according to court and jail records.

The victim certainly didn't get a lot of justice from the court system.