A group of Santa Barbara Unified School District employees filed a temporary restraining order against a Santa Barbara Community Academy student’s mother on March 1, citing workplace harassment.
Court documents allege that Sabrina Lynk “made a credible threat of violence” against employees at the academy “by making knowing or willful statements or engaging in a course of conduct that would place a reasonable person in fear for his or her safety or the safety of his or her immediate family.”
The order protects six of the academy’s employees: teachers Roberta Barrero Ortega, Madeleine Bordofsky, and Tricia Poelstra; office manager Eva Diaz Ortiz; office assistant Blanca Castro; and Principal Alicia Saballa-Santana.
Per the restraining order’s terms, Lynk is prohibited from harassing the protected employees in any way, committing acts of unlawful violence on or making threats to them, following or stalking them during work hours or to or from the workplace, contacting them by any means, or entering the academy’s workplace.
The restraining order follows an alleged Feb. 2 incident, in which Lynk arrived at the academy after the school day and went on what the restraining order petition called an “abusive tirade.”
Saballa-Santana’s declaration said Lynk was upset by a note the principal had sent home to the parents of each sixth grader at the academy “in order to inform the parents that [Saballa-Santana] had not authorized a handwritten letter authored by [Lynk].”
Saballa-Santana wrote in her declaration that Lynk claimed to be “all drugged up” and began yelling at Saballa-Santana, using her body to block the principal in her office.
“[Lynk’s] behavior placed me in fear for my safety, the safety of our employees and our students,” the principal wrote. “When she told me I wasn’t going anywhere as I attempted to reach for my door, I didn’t know whether [she] intended to attack or hurt me.”
In response, Ortega, who witnessed the conflict, called the police. Lynk then left the principal’s office and allegedly “verbally assaulted” other teachers on the school’s campus.
“[Lynk’s] threatening, abusive, and intimidating behavior was also witnessed by children who attend the school,” the restraining order petition stated. “Respondent’s conduct has resulted in placing the school staff, teachers, principal, and students in fear of their physical safety.”
Judicial Officer Thomas Anderle granted the temporary restraining order on Feb. 28. Lynk must stay at least 100 yards away from the six listed employees in their workplace, homes, school, children’s schools, children’s places of child care, and vehicles.
The order is in effect until the case hearing, which is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on March 21 in the Figueroa Division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
This article appears in Mar 9-16, 2017.