The Tukwila School Board placed Tukwila Schools Superintendent Ethelda Burk on paid administrative leave on Tuesday night, March 27.

Burke will be on leave during the board’s investigation of discrimination claims by nine staffers.

Nine staff members have filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission charging that Burke made discriminatory comments to them.

Burke, who is black, is accused of calling several staff members her “slaves.”

Athletic and activities director J. D. Hill charges that Burke called him “J. Darky.”

Hill also claims that Burke told him he was hiring too many people of color. Hill quotes Burke as saying he was “making the district look too black” and was making the district a “ghetto.”

A few years back, the New York Times named the Tukwila district as the most racially diverse school district in the country.

At the meeting, Burke’s niece, Kipepeo Brown said she didn’t think Burke made the alleged remarks.

“I know how Ethelda is. I’ve known her my entire life,” KOMO News quoted Brown as saying.

Several Burke supporters wore green ribbons at the board meeting.

But KOMO also quoted a parent as declaring, “Think it not strange that an African American would discriminate on an African American. That’s what black on black crime is. I think we need to keep that mindset.”

Burke had asked for a three-week leave but board members opted to keep her on leave until the investigation is completed.

After holding a closed executive session on March 22, the board issued a statement saying they would not be rushed into making a decision on firing Burke.

“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.” the statement said. “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.”

Students at the district’s only high school, Foster, walked out of class on March 23 to show solidarity with staff complaints against Burke.

Burke became Tukwila’s superintendent in 2007.