Parents Demand Principal To Step Down For Allegedly Discriminating Against Spanish-Speaking, Special Ed Students

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Parents and teachers at an elementary school in South L.A. are demanding a new principal.

They say they and their students have been mistreated and verbally abused by Brenda Grady for years.

A crowd picketed and chanted "It's gotta stop, Grady has got to go!" outside John Mack Elementary School on Wednesday.

More than 100 students boycotted the school this week, according to demonstrators.

They say Grady has denied services to special education students and ignored Spanish-speaking parents' concerns.

Parent Khadijah Abdul says her son was on the receiving end of that alleged discrimination.

"Child psychologists sent paperwork over and, even after that, she still refused," Abdul said. "He's a good kid, but he needs extra help."

Parent and former staff member Rafael Morales says he fought back and was fired: "And, then, a few days later, my son got suspended from the after-school program."

Teacher Holly Jackson said of Grady: "She doesn't get to grab a child or shaker her finger in a child's face and stay."

The Los Angeles Unified School District agreed to meet with the protesters but wouldn't allow CBS2/KCAL9's crew inside.

The meeting was short and ended with parents and teachers storming out: "They would not listen to us. They have their own agenda."

The district released a statement that read, in part: "The LAUSD will continue to review all issues brought to the district," and added, "Mack administrators will ensure that all polices and procedures are followed."

With no resolution in sight protesters say they'll continue to keep their kids home for the last day of school Thursday.