No conclusions should be jumped to on either side of school suit

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Dear Beachcomber,

I read with dismay that two students feel bullied and unsafe in Vashon schools (“Lawsuit alleges lack of action, harassment at island schools,” April 27). The descriptions in the lawsuit of alleged daily sexual harassment from other students experienced by a student at McMurray over a three year period is horrifying. As is the description of alleged harassment based on sexual orientation of a high school student by other students and an administrator.

Equally alarming is the allegation that the harassment was not stopped despite numerous attempts by the parents, using the school district’s established channels of complaint, to ensure a safe learning environment for their children.

I agree with the Beachcomber that the island needs to show restraint and patience while two efforts are underway — an independent investigation opened by the school district as well as the legal system (“Lawsuit filed against district calls for restraint from public,” April 27). The editorial asks us not to jump to conclusions and let both processes proceed. That makes sense.

Apparently the school district expects to get findings from its independent investigation in a few weeks. And the legal process is just moving into investigation and evidence gathering.

Given this timing and the complexity of the complaints, I was disturbed to read the quote attributed to Superintendent Soltman that “I truly believe that once the allegations have gone through the legal process, it will be made more clear that we (the district and all of its employees) always acted with the best intentions of our students in mind. There was no discrimination or neglect ever.”

Now is not the time for conclusions. That is especially true for our school board members given that the district’s administration has apparently prematurely concluded that all is well.

— Julie Burman