Tukwila Schools Superintendent Ethelda Burke, who is black, has been the subject of racial discrimination complaints accusing her of allegedly making inappropriate comments.

The Tukwila School Board issued the following statement on Friday, March 23:

Statement from the Tukwila School Board
March 23, 2012

Last night the Tukwila School District Board of Directors met in executive session to discuss legal matters with counsel. Our state’s law and district’s policies recognize the need to sometimes meet in this way.

We were not there to make any decisions and none were made. We were there to better understand our legal obligations and to receive information on the discrimination complaints that have been presented.

As we have previously stated, the board takes these charges of discrimination very seriously.

Some who were present at last night’s meeting were vocally pressing for a decision of some kind to be made. On the one hand, a quick decision favorable to those who were pressing for action might make it less uncomfortable for the board. On the other hand, we each knew that doing so at this very early stage in the process would fail to protect the due process rights that all employees share. It also might lead to a bad decision.

While the particular issue in question focuses on our superintendent, we must be concerned about protecting the due process rights of all staff, students and the community. Our processes affect people’s lives and livelihoods. Our approach must be fair.

This board will not be pushed into a premature judgment, no matter how vocal any group might be. We have to know more before taking action. If we were to act now, it would send the grim message that employees’ rights can be circumvented just for expediency and outside pressure without regard to the facts.

We are one of the most diverse school districts in the country and have a special responsibility to uphold fairness to all.

We believe that an investigation will give us the information we need to take responsible action. We have directed our legal counsel to conduct such an investigation. That investigation is ongoing. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is also conducting an independent investigation. We believe that it benefits all concerned to come to a complete and thorough understanding of the facts so that we can have an honest and fair process.

Once again we ask that the Tukwila Community be patient with the process and support the board’s efforts to keep heated emotion and premature judgment out of the decision making process. It is imperative that we show our children that we are above name calling and can focus on the issues in light of the full facts. When we have conversations on these issues, we should do so in a respectful manner. This will acknowledge our shared commitment to making Tukwila and its schools a place where all people can live together and without fear of our differences.