Edison School of the Arts staff, students call for resignation of executive director
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Loading... - Olympia Aetos
- 08 Mar 2023
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Dozens of students, parents, and staff members at Edison School of the Arts assailed the independent public school’s executive director and administration for allegedly maintaining a culture of fear and toxic work environment, in an emotional meeting Tuesday night.
Several staff claimed that fear and mistreatment by the administration have driven away their colleagues. Students said the administration silenced their voices. And parents and students called for the resignation of Executive Director Nathan Tuttle.
Allegations that Tuttle used a racial slur against a student Thursday had prompted the Edison board to call a public meeting. The board has placed Tuttle on administrative leave and contracted with the law firm Barnes and Thornburg to investigate. The board didn’t respond to allegations about the school’s environment during the meeting.
Edison is one of the few Innovation schools in Indianapolis Public Schools not run by a charter operator. Instead, it is run by a nonprofit and is overseen by its own board.
In a phone call with Chalkbeat ahead of the meeting, Tuttle denied the allegations and said multiple witnesses will prove they’re false. He said he was speaking to a student who used a racial slur and told that student not to do so.
“I did in no way ever, nor have I ever, used a racial slur toward a child,” he said.
But on Tuesday night, parents and staff claimed that Tuttle said the slur repeatedly to Black students when trying to explain what they should not say. They said he should not have repeated the word.
The incident has prompted dozens of students and staff to speak up about what they described as longstanding climate and culture problems. Read More…
