The NAACP says one thing. Local President Carl Mack: "We tried to settle it at the lowest level possible - we didn't want this."

The Kent School District, and Superintendent Barbara Grohe, says another: "We've extended the invitation over and over and over, come back to the table."

Who's telling the truth?

The issue is kids at Kent schools -- specifically African-American kids. Fifteen claim Kent Schools used excessive force.

Student Jailanna Leonard outlined the problem in a March interview: "I think they are anti-black because they don't do anything like this to the white kids."

The NAACP filed $50 million worth of claims for the students alleging school security uses extreme discipline -- including handcuffs. That's of great concern to African-American pastors in the Kent area.

"We're concerned that the current policy be corrected," says Rev. Wilbur Vincent of Center of Faith Church, "and that handcuffs emphatically go away."

According to the district's own numbers, more African-American students are suspended and expelled than any other kids. African-Americans make up about 10 percent of the student population, but they account for nearly 25 percent of the discipline.

"The problem in the Kent School District is clearly institutionalized racism," says the NAACP's Education Chairwoman Sakara Remmu. "And the belief that children of color need to be ruled with a heavy hand."

But the district says it began programs designed to help children of color long ago, and they are starting to work.

Too late says the NAACP. President Mack insists Superintendent Grohe, must resign -- in part because of her response to the latest claims.

"The district said that they would receive or welcome input from the NAACP, yet they charged ahead with absolutely no input from the NAACP," Mack said.

The Superintendent's response? "At our first meeting, I actually believed Mr. Mack when he said we want to be part of the solution. He's never come back to another meeting."

Both sides say this is really about the children. The District says its invitation to the NAACP to come back to the table and talk about the children's future - is still open. KOMO 4 News has not heard back from the NAACP, if they are willing to talk.