Call For Everett School District Board Of Directors Inquiry Into Video Surveillance Of Kay Power's Classroom

Dear Members, Everett School District Board of Directors;





We the undersigned request a full inquiry, conducted in accordance with district, local, and state policies, into the video surveillance of Kay Powers, formerly a teacher at Cascade High School in Everett, Washington. District representatives, namely Superintendent Dr. Carol Whitehead and Deputy Superintendent Mr. Karst Brandsma, expressly ordered the video surveillance equipment to be installed in Ms. Powers's classroom without her, her students', their parents', or the school administration's prior knowledge between the months of May 10 and June 11 of 2007. Although video surveillance is allowed by district administrative procedures in common school areas, such as the playground and the cafeteria, no permission to use such surveillance in the classroom is provided by this policy.





In addition, the Everett School District, through the Superintendent and their spokespeople, expressly and flatly denied using any such surveillance just over a month before finally admitting to the practice in a letter sent out to district employees, signed by Dr. Whitehead. This letter indicated neither who was contracted to install the camera nor if the administration or staff at Cascade High School was informed of the decision to do so.





President of the Everett Education Association, Kim Mead, has called upon the state to set up a commission to review the district's decision to employ video surveillance in Kay Powers's classroom. We ask that you not only comply fully with any decision made by the state on this matter, but that you act either in advance or in accordance with the state to review the incriminating evidence levied against the district, Dr. Whitehead, Mr. Brandsma, and any other persons known to participate, explicitly or complicitly, in the installation of the device.





We thank you for time and consideration.