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A teacher at Kennedy Middle School in Redwood City has been placed on paid administrative leave and one student was arrested after an altercation on May 22.
The teacher allegedly got into a physical altercation with a student shortly after the school day ended. The district immediately placed the teacher on paid leave for the rest of the school year while it investigated, district spokesperson Jorge Quintana said.
“Redwood City School District is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment at all district schools,” Quintana said in a statement. “Kennedy Middle School administrators and support staff have communicated with families and implemented a plan to support students in the teacher’s classroom as the school year concludes.”
Quintana added that counselors and student support staff would remain available for students who may need additional support.
The incident happened just two weeks before the middle school let out for the year. The district did not say what caused the incident.
The Redwood City Police Department arrested the 14-year-old male student on May 22 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury and assault with a deadly weapon likely to create great bodily injury on a school employee for throwing a backpack at the teacher, according to Capt. Junsun Lee. The department’s investigation is still ongoing.
This news organization reviewed a video which appeared to show the student throwing a backpack at the teacher, who then put the bag down and confronted the student. The teacher appeared to attempt to put the student on the ground and fight the student until an adult intervened.
The police department wrote that the parties declined medical attention in an activity log from the incident.
Quintana said the district is limited in the information it can share due to personnel and student privacy concerns. Lee said he could not provide additional details on the student’s case because he is a juvenile.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated with additional information from the Redwood City Police Department and after reviewing a video submitted by a community member.
