District eyed after alleged attack

Civil rights groups have demanded a formal investigation into the Huntington Beach City School District following allegations that a teacher at Isaac Sowers Middle School allegedly hit a special-needs student with a clipboard for asking a “stupid question.”

The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable and other groups have requested that the U.S. Department of Education undertake a formal investigation of the district’s policies and practices after it allegedly failed to discipline or fire the teacher, according to a release from the roundtable.

The National Action Network, Los Angeles Civil Rights Assn., Black Ministerial Alliance, Youth Advocacy Coalition and the Voice of the People are also calling for the investigation, according to the release.

District Supt. Kathy Kessler said she doesn’t believe the groups have all the information. The district has denied a legal claim, generally a precursor to a lawsuit, filed by the family.

The investigation comes after a Huntington Beach family accused a teacher of hitting their 14-year-old, who is African American, with a clipboard after he asked a “stupid question,” Earl Hutchinson, the roundtable’s president, said in an e-mail.

“The Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable has received complaints from several teachers in the district about mistreatment of students,” Hutchinson said. “They fear retaliation and cannot be identified.”

James and Sandra Barr filed the claim on behalf of their son Devonte Barr on Feb. 23. The family is seeking an unknown amount of more than $25,000 in damages for assault and battery, violating his rights and attorney’s fees.

Kessler said she couldn’t comment on the claim, but it is being investigated by the district’s legal counsel.

Devonte was in his algebra class Nov. 18 during a lockdown drill, where students practice what they should do if an intruder enters the campus, when he asked the teacher what would happen if someone came through the window, according to the claim.

Teacher Marta Rosener allegedly said it was a stupid question and hit him across the forehead with a clipboard in front of the class, according to the claim.

“Now can we get back to class?” Rosener asked, according to the claim.

Rosener did not return a call seeking comment.

The incident has caused Devonte to be harassed and teased by his peers and with psychological and emotional harm, according to the claim. The incident and the district’s “inaction” were a violation of Devonte’s civil rights, Hutchinson said.

The district hasn’t been contacted by the U.S. Department of Education, Kessler said.