Police Investigate Harding Principal
Child Abuse Charge Possible
Nuh Kimbwala, the principal of Harding Elementary School until he was removed from his post last week, is now the focus of a child abuse investigation by the Santa Barbara Police Department, according to police spokesperson Riley Harwood.
Harwood explained that police visited the school on Santa Barbara’s Westside last Friday to “take a report of an allegation” against Kimbwala related to an incident on Wednesday, November 14, “which, if true, would amount to a case of misdemeanor child abuse not sexual in nature.” Those who reported the crime first contacted Child Welfare Services, where officials advised them to contact the police directly. The investigation is now in the hands of the Crimes Against Persons detail.
On that same Friday, November 16, the Santa Barbara Unified School District announced that Kimbwala was going to be replaced by Assistant Principal Vanesha Davis. District officials have not commented on the matter, but other sources at Harding said that Kimbwala, who started on the job in August, having replaced outgoing principal Sally Kingston, was not connecting with students, parents, or staff.
