US school official fired for threatening students for not applauding daughter enough

A California school district superintendent was axed after students accused her of threatening to bar them from graduation festivities for not clapping loudly enough for her daughter at a sports banquet, The New York Post reported.

During a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, the board overseeing the 35,000-student Poway Unified School District in San Diego unanimously voted to fire Marian Kim Phelps. The board said “it lost all confidence and trust in her ability to continue as the superintendent”.

Michelle O’Connor-Ratcliff, the board’s president, read out the statement calling for the dismissal of Phelps after an investigation into her conduct began on November 15 last year.

“The investigation brought to light previous unknown evidence with witnesses with direct first-hand knowledge that contradicted Dr Phelps’ statements and assertions to the board, district staff and the public,” the board’s statement said.

On May 30 last year, Phelps believed that members of the softball team at Del Norte High School, a Poway Unified campus in San Diego, did not clap loud enough for her daughter when she was named the most valuable player at a team banquet.

This prompted Phelps to initiate a probe and threaten to ban students from attending graduation ceremonies.

Phelps also faces a lawsuit in connection with the matter.