BURBANK : Fund Launched to Aid Ex-Principal

A group of private citizens have organized a fund to aid former Burbank high school principal Keiko Hentell in her discrimination suit against the Burbank Unified School District.

“We don’t take any position other than the fact that we believe in and support Keiko Hentell,” said Christopher Spencer, president of the Dreams to Reality Foundation in Burbank, which hopes to raise $10,000 to help pay Hentell’s lawyer and court costs.

Spencer and Hentell became acquainted last year when Spencer organized a fund-raiser for the performing arts program at Burbank High. The foundation has funded other projects, such as delivering meals to the homes of AIDS patients after the Northridge earthquake.

The Burbank school board announced in February that it was not going to renew Hentell’s contract as principal when it expires at the end of June. The board gave no reason for its decision.

Hentell was later reassigned to write grants for the district and is to start work as an English teacher in the district next year.

Hentell filed the discrimination suit last week, charging she was removed from the job because she is a Japanese-American woman who tried to encourage minority groups at Burbank High School. She sanctioned the fund earlier this week.

Besides getting her job back as principal, Hentell’s suit also seeks an unspecified amount of monetary damages.

“We don’t want to see her struggle financially while she pursues this case,” said Spencer, who said he has already been promised donations from several people who support her. He added that he will contribute $100 to the fund himself.

Hentell said she was grateful for the help.