LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Parents at a Las Vegas school said they won't stop their fight until their principal is removed.
They said the top boss at Joseph Neal STEAM Academy is causing longtime teachers to leave and that student concerns are also not being addressed.
They want the district to step in before children get impacted in the classroom.
There's teachers that are planning on retiring out of this school, and they're not now. They're leaving," said Jennifer Jackson, whose second-grade son attends the school.She said teachers have had enough.
They tell me that this -- the way that they're being treated at that school is the reason why you have 30-plus teachers leaving. And support staff and yelling, berating staff in front of other teachers," said Jackson.Clark County Education Association Executive Director John Vellardita said they have been approached by teachers and "are currently investigating concerns raised with us."
Right now, the Clark County School Department website shows 12 licensed professional openings at the school, mainly for teachers. If that number grows, parents worry about what that could mean for their children.
The parents took these and other issues with the principal to the school board meeting Thursday night.
I do blame the administration for not protecting my child," Jaclyn Ziegert, a mother, said when sharing a situation with her daughter and another student she said hasn't been handled properly. "And that does go back to the area of student safety."Ziegert and others addressed the trustees, who are not allowed to respond to any of the public comments.
"Any attempt to silence us will be met with legal action," said another parent, Heather Brown. "It's evident that her leadership is questionable."
KSNV followed up with parent Marlene Arellano on Friday. She has two sons at the elementary school.
Arellano said the regional superintendent for the school spoke with parents after the meeting.
They're willing to help us, but we tell them we don't want the principal there," said Arellano. "And she said that she has done nothing wrong and that investigations have been made and that she is going to be remaining at the school."Arellano said the answer is not good enough for her and wants trustees and any other higher-ups to investigate. She wants to see details into whatever investigation was already done or she may pull her younger son out of the school.
"His education right now is at stake," said Arellano. "I'm worried he's going to be stuck with a long-term sub or a new teacher that might make him not continue to learn at the way he's learning right now in the pre-K level."
KSNV reached out to the principal through email and is waiting to hear back.
KSNV also requested an interview with the school board and asked the district if there would be an investigation- as well as what is being done to address the educator openings at the school.
The district sent a statement that said, in part:
The Clark County School District is aware of the claims made by individuals at the Board of School Trustees meeting regarding Joseph M. Neal Elementary School.
District leadership engaged with those who reached out or spoke at the board meeting and will continue to dialogue with those expressing concerns related to this matter.
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