The Abridged version:
- Sixth grade teacher Jeanine Rupert’s decision to pull up carpet in her classroom cost Sacramento City Unified $22,185.72 in repairs, according to newly released district documents.
- Rupert had at least three students using hammers and crowbars to assist her in removing the carpet, according to the documents, presenting the district with liability. Read the document below.
- The district relocated Rupert from Phoebe Hearst Elementary to another school as punishment, spawning weeks of protest from parents and students.
- In response to the report, Rupert said she regretted her actions, but she believes the district’s punishment is an overreaction.
Kids with hammers and crowbars. Stains attributed to pets in the classroom. More than $20,000 in damage.
The Sacramento City Unified School District made public for the first time details of their official account of an incident involving beloved sixth grade teacher Jeanine Rupert.
Rupert was moved from her classroom at Phoebe Hearst Elementary School to another school in the district, after she had students assist her with removing carpet from her classroom. Her displacement has fueled weeks of protest from parents and students.
District officials have said previously the action could have endangered students.
Newly released HR documents report Rupert “also brought a significant and unexpected expense to the district.”
According to a notice of unprofessional conduct, sent to Rupert and dated Aug. 29, the final cost to repair and replace flooring in her classroom at Phoebe Hearst totaled $22,185.72.
After repeated requests for removal
Rupert took the step of removing the carpet herself after repeatedly asking the school to take action, including during a flea infestation at the end of last year, she said in a response to the HR notice, which was included in the file.
“I never received any confirmation that my work orders had even been looked at,” Rupert wrote in a response letter dated Sept. 11. “It appears as if I (and the students) were simply being ignored.”
She also said her offer to pay for a district-approved contractor to complete the work, after she first took the step to remove the carpet, was rebuffed.
The carpet was cleaned by staff in 2023 and by an outside company in 2024, according to Brian Heap, a spokesperson for the district. During the 2024-25 school year, the facilities team was told that Rupert had paid a company to again clean the carpet, which “smelled of urine from the animals brought in the classroom,” Heap said.
District documentation says her removal requests were denied because officials had “inspected the classroom carpet, and stated it was in good shape, but noticed stains on the carpet, possibly waste from the animal(s) you kept in the classroom.”
“Your actions demonstrate a disregard for taxpayer funds, policies and procedures, and the safety and well being (sic) of the students, staff and anyone who entered the classroom,” the HR notice continues.
Student involvement raises concerns
At the center of the issue, according to the district, was the involvement of at least three students “using hammers and a crowbar(s),” a liability issue for the district.
“Your negligence and total disregard for the safety and well being (sic) of the students and staff of Phoebe Hearst Elementary, has had a direct negative impact on the community,” the district document reads.
Rupert said the students who assisted her volunteered.
“Let me state at the outset that I deeply regret this choice,” she wrote. “I should not have unilaterally tried to remove the carpet, nor allowed students to assist in any way.”
But, in her letter, Rupert wrote she feels the district’s chosen punishment to relocate her is an overresponse.
James Jones, Rupert’s attorney, said Rupert had the opportunity to object to the district releasing the documents but opted not to.
“Her approach has been sunlight’s the best disinfectant,” Jones said.
“There’s a lot of hurt out there,” he added. “Her interests are really to help the school get back to a good place.”
Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.