YUCAIPA - A Yucaipa High School teacher who accused a handful of administrators of retaliating against him after he repeatedly raised concerns over asbestos removal has retired as the result of a settlement with the district.


Albert Kelley, who taught marine biology at the high school for 12 years, confirmed Thursday the suit was settled but neither Kelley nor the school district would disclose the terms.

"All I can say is I owe a debt of gratitude to the students and parents for supporting me in my educational and justice endeavors,"

Kelley said.
He said he is saddened at the sudden retirement, but will seek a doctorate in child advocacy at the University of Redlands. Kelley also plans to look into acting as an environmental consultant for the Central Park project in Santa Ana.

Kelley, who oversaw various school groups, was known for speaking out at district board meetings.

"Al always fought for what he thought was right - the environment, his students and his colleagues," said Cyndi Holman, president of the Yucaipa-Calimesa Teachers Association. "These things were very important to him and this is probably what led to the situation he found himself in."

Kelley's last day was Feb. 24. A steady stream of sympathetic letters and telephone calls were still streaming in, Kelley said Saturday.
Many students said they will never have a teacher as inspirational as Kelley.

Students turned the "Y" on the hill behind the high school into a peace sign in Kelley's honor and hung dozens of signs throughout the campus with well wishes on them.

"He's a really good teacher and a really cool person to be around," said Niki Ables, a Yucaipa High senior. "This is really sad because I know teaching is his life and we consider him a friend, not just a teacher."

Ables said she and a friend ditched school Friday to buy him a going-away present - a T-shirt with a picture of the girls on the front adorned with "We love you, Mr. Kelley, we'll miss you."
Kelley filed the lawsuit against the district in September 2004. According to court documents, he maintained four district administrators retaliated against him for shedding light on what he believed to be a serious asbestos problem at Yucaipa High.

The asbestos complaint was filed in June 2000. After an investigation, the district was fined $1,400 by the California Occupational Health and Safety Administration for workplace violations such as not providing employees with required training in asbestos handling.
Board trustee Joyella Beuler said Kelley has "retired early."

"As far as I'm aware, he was an excellent teacher," she said. "All the students seem to really like him and they really enjoyed his classes.
"As with any good teacher, it's always sad to see a teacher, who the students like so much, leave the district."

Stacia Glenn and Selicia Kennedy-Ross, Staff Writers,

San Bernadino County Sun