Nov 28, 2024 Story by: Editor
A Black campus safety supervisor at Tamalpais High School has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the school district of violating state and federal laws by failing to inform him about a racist video that circulated among students before a violent incident last fall.
Kenneth Wayne Price, 46, sustained a serious injury to his left shoulder on October 6, 2023, while responding to reports of students lingering near a boys’ restroom. Unaware of heightened racial tensions stemming from the video, Price intervened in a fight between two Black and two White students, which erupted after he instructed them to return to class, according to the lawsuit. His attempt to de-escalate the situation left him injured.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleges that Price would have handled the incident differently had he been informed about the six-second video, which had already sparked unrest among students. The video, reportedly filmed in late August, featured a male student repeating a racial slur while laughing, joined by another student. Initially shared among a small group, the video spread widely across the student body, fueling tensions.
Tamarah Prevost, one of Price’s attorneys, claims the district failed to notify Price and other Black employees about the video, even though White employees received an email alert on September 29, 2023.
“Mr. Price has been a pillar of the South Marin community for decades,” Prevost stated in an email. “His serious injury could have been avoided had Tam High administrators properly informed him, as Campus Safety Supervisor, about the racist video circulated days before his injury. Now, a critical role model in the school community has been seriously injured. This case is about righting that injustice.”
Fellow attorney Aaron Fischer revealed that Price has been on leave for 13 months due to the injury, which requires surgery. “It is unclear whether and when he will be able to return to work,” Fischer said, adding that Price continues to experience physical pain and emotional trauma.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for alleged discrimination, fraud, and constitutional violations.
Neither Tara Taupier, superintendent of the Tamalpais Union High School District, nor Kimberly Clissold, principal of Tam High, responded to requests for comment.
In a December 5 memo, Taupier acknowledged that Black staff members had not been informed about the video when the administration became aware of it.
The incident triggered protests, with more than 100 students and members of the Black community marching a week later. Subsequently, a school board meeting drew over a dozen community members demanding change. In the aftermath, the school’s only Black administrator, Assistant Principal Tara Ranzy, resigned and relocated.
Despite the district’s promises to address racial issues through meetings and workshops, similar incidents have continued. Earlier this month, Tam High’s football team was placed on probation following another racist incident, with the administration warning that future infractions could lead to forfeiting the season.
Fischer explained the timing of the lawsuit, noting that it was filed to meet statutes of limitations for civil rights complaints. Federal cases have a two-year limit, while state claims require filing within six months of submitting a tort claim, which the attorneys did in May.
“We approached the district earlier this year to see if we could resolve the issue without going to court, but we were rebuffed,” Fischer said.
A graduate of Tamalpais High School and a Marin City resident, Price was hired as a campus supervisor in 2017. Over the years, he became a well-regarded mentor, running student support groups and maintaining close connections with the school community.
“He was connected to the school community for years and years,” Fischer said. “He was much beloved.” Source: Mercury News
