The Bellingham Public Schools board quickly and quietly approved a resolution Wednesday to fund the legal defense of district employees Meghan Dunham, Maude Chimere Hackney and Jeremy Louzao amid a federal lawsuit and gross misdemeanor charges.
The civil rights suit filed on Dec. 7 against the three assistant principals alleges they failed to report a student’s sexual assaults when she came forward in January this year. Dunham, Hackney and Louzao were also charged with failure to report, Bellingham police said.
State law (RCW 26.44.032) obligates the school district to provide the funding for the legal defense “of an employee subject … who acts in good faith and without gross negligence in his or her reporting duty.”
The school board unilaterally approved the resolution without discussion.
Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, about two dozen high school students stood with vibrant signs proclaiming “Silent staff members pose a risk” and “Rethink who you hire.” During the public comment period, students protested the lack of communication and the district’s failure to provide a safe environment.
“Be transparent and honest with the youth because in the end we will be you and how are we going to be you if we don’t start learning now?” student Cadence Phelps said.
Students said they felt many of the district’s efforts are hollow. They said posters on walls of schools do not reflect action and efforts to create a safe environment on Squalicum’s campus.
“We are fed up, and we are tired, and we are ready for change,” Squalicum High School student body president Evan McDevitt said. “Now I ask, when are you ready to change with us?”
The district’s top administrator acknowledged the complaints.
Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Baker watches public comment during the Dec. 14 school board meeting. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
“They have things to say; they have pain and they are convinced that we as adults are not hearing them,” Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Baker said at the board meeting.
Board members Jenn Mason and Katie Rose — who previously worked at Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) of Whatcom County — and board member Kelly Bashaw discussed their frustrations with the district’s inability to share more because of privacy laws.
“I appreciate that we have a district that is using this moment to see what we can be doing better,” Mason said. “I look forward to doing more learning on what we can do to support staff and students and our families.”
In a message to parents and the community on Wednesday, Baker maintained that the staff “took good-faith actions to support and protect a student based on information they received.”
“We understand in this incident the student has reported not feeling supported,” Baker said. “We know the importance of believing victims and responding with compassion, and this is an area we will continue working on with our community partners.”
The letter also stressed that the school district is limited in what it can say due to the current litigation.
The school district stated that all staff members participate in annual training relating to suspected child abuse or neglect and their mandatory duty to report to law enforcement and/or child protection services.
On Monday, hundreds of students walked out in protest of the allegations and demanded more support from the administration. Squalicum High School Principal Miguel Perez responded that the school is reviewing its trainings and procedures with help from the police, DVSAS, mental health professionals and high school student representatives.
“We believe all students deserve to be safe and feel safe in our schools, and we are committed to doing this work with our community,” Baker said in Wednesday’s message to parents. “We will continue to prioritize student voices and work with families and partners to work toward our goal of safe and inclusive schools.
