THE DIS-ENROLLMENT (Part 2)

a summary of events on Monday & Tuesday, May 23-24, 2016, CULMINATING in the fernandez' dis-enrollment 

A NEW WEEK BEGINS:

On Monday, May 23, 2016, all three Fernandez girls attended school as usual, during which time there were multiple friendly email exchanges between Dawn and Dr. David-Paul Zimmerman ("DPZ") to schedule a meeting to resolve concerns regarding Gloria Zimmerman's ("Gloria") mishandling of the situation involving Renton Prep students on Friday, May 20, 2016. 

There is no indication, whatsoever, in any of DPZ's emails to Dawn that he experienced any type of physical threat by Rod.  

In fact, DPZ writes, 

“I eagerly wish to share [the audio-video recording] with you and your family, especially Rod, so he can see the entire interaction," DPZ then ends their interaction by emailing Dawn from his phone stating that he just missed her at the Southcenter mall.

CLICK HERE for the May 23, 2016 e-mail thread between Dawn and DPZ (read from bottom on up).

Michelle & Dawn emails:

That same day, Dr. Michelle Zimmerman ("Michelle") sent Dawn an email with the Subject line, "Filming opportunity for Randi," which consisted of 27 paragraphs leading up to Randi being filmed by Microsoft (see Exhibit 217 - King County Superior Court Case No. 16-2-22512-8 KNT.)  

26 paragraphs into the email, Michelle stated:

Dawn interpreted this email as Michelle's attempt to reassure her that the teachers did, in fact, care about her daughters and supported and loved Randi. 

Dawn did not address or reassure Michelle that Rod had not threatened her dad [DPZ], because

1) it did not happen, and

2) Rod was never accused of doing so.

Rather, Dawn understood Michelle's statement as confirmation that "there wasn't any actual real threat of physical violence toward [Michelle's] dad." 

King County Superior Court Judge Cahan even indicated in the Findings of Fact that,

"Dawn Fernandez's lack of response [to Michelle] is somewhat understandable as the concern was at the end of a lengthy e-mail discussing the children and the sentence could have been more clearly written."

That being said, Dawn accepted Michelle's confirmation and, in fact, responded via email that she, Rod, Jasmine, and Randi looked forward to meeting, discussing one another's perspectives, and bringing the situation involving Gloria to resolution the following day. 

Viewing of "Gloria Meeting:" 

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016, a meeting was held to view the School's audio-video of Gloria and the Renton Prep students. It was attended by the Fernandez family, the Akamine-Rogers family, all three Zimmermans (DPZ, Gloria & Michelle), another student, and Renton Prep teacher, Lauri Nichols.

There was nothing leading up to the meeting that indicated it was about anything other than Gloria's interactions with Renton Prep students 3 days earlier. 

DPZ and Rod sat next to each other throughout the entire meeting. DPZ was relaxed, making jokes, smiling, and chuckling on occasion.  From our family's perspective, the meeting was chaotic and poorly managed. It felt as if the Zimmermans' entire purpose was to downplay what the children felt were important issues and to convince us that Gloria had been flawless in her approach with the students. 

We now realize that the Zimmermans were never there to hear our concerns.

Transcribed excerpts of the May 24, 2016 meeting at Renton Prep.

Zimmermans Walk out in protest:

After much conversation, Gloria acknowledged she was wrong to make Randi apologize to the 6th grade student on May 20th.  Gloria apologized to Randi at the May 24th meeting, and Randi graciously accepted.  At that point, Dawn indicated there was no need to waste time and continue viewing the video, but Gloria and Michelle had become quite defensive by then. 

Dawn respectfully expressed her desire for "everyone to be treated fairly," indicated to Gloria that "you shouldn't pick sides," and stated that "no one should be judged and say ‘I believe you, and I don’t believe you.” 

Gloria responded by asking, “Okay, so it is against me?” 

Dawn paused then reluctantly admitted, “Yes, it is [about Gloria].  That’s the issue here.  I want it to be fair.” 

Gloria attempted to clarify the perpetrator of Dawn’s “issue” and asked, “Not even [the 6th grade student - who, ironically, the Zimmermans later claim they're protecting], it’s me?” 

The meeting ended abruptly when Gloria, Michelle, and DPZ stood up and walked out.

Gloria stated,

“It really seems to me that I’ve been on trial and I’m convicted,”

then proceeded to stand up. Her daughter, Michelle, followed, standing next to Gloria and stating,

“And as you all say, I will defend my family.  I watched my mom be shot through more and more times.”

Gloria and Michelle then proceeded to open the door and walk out of the meeting.

DPZ was the last to stand, giving the families an ultimatum,

“I’ve been here 30 years and we’ve done the very best we could.  If this is no longer a good fit then you need to find a new school.  I love y’all dearly, but if this is not a good fit, I’m not gonna waste my [inaudible]…I know what’s going on in this school.  I know what’s going on behind our backs, and we do, we do what we do the very best we can.  If you really don’t believe this is a safe place for your children… we love you dearly.”  

As DPZ turned to walk out of the room, both Dede and Dawn responded,

“Thank you.” 

the families remained in the room, shocked and confused as to what had just happened. The children began to cry.

The Zimmermans also left behind Mrs. Nichols in the room, who was then forced to handle the situation on her own.  Just minutes later, DPZ turned off the lights in the room, causing the children to cry louder.

(Note: DPZ later claimed he didn't remember turning off the light switch, which was connected to the classroom light switch. However, minutes later he walked back into the dark room to retrieve his laptop and then proceeded to exit the room for a second time without turning the lights back on.)

It took roughly 10 minutes for the families to compose themselves. While leaving the parking lot, Mrs. Nichols approached the car of the Fernandez family to console the crying children. The Fernandez children, in addition to one other student in the car, told Mrs. Nichols that they were scared to attend school the following day. Mrs. Nichols reassured them that there was no need to worry, and that 'Yes,' they were, in fact, coming back to school the next day.

Approximately thirty minutes later the Fernandez children were dis-enrolled.  

Shortly upon arriving home, Dawn received the dis-enrollment email from DPZ, which gave no explanation.

The reaction by the Fernandez children and their cousins (Eidrea, Solana, and Aurelia) was excruciatingly painful to witness. Jasmine describes this scene in her Google Review. 

The Fernandez girls were removed from the Schools only three days prior to the end of the 2015-2016 school year.  Knowing the Zimmermans' history of pushing families out who challenged them, 

Dawn responded to DPZ with, "As you wish."

For the next part of our family's story, go to Failed Reconciliation.