No Retraction Vote Listed on QVSD’s Oct. 27 Agenda After Renewed Calls to Correct Larson Statement

The Quillayute Valley School Board’s published agenda for Tuesday lists no vote on residents’ repeated requests to retract its statement about the Kari Larson lawsuit, two weeks after speakers again pressed directors for answers about the district’s handling of misconduct complaints.

The October 27 meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Forks Elementary School library. The agenda includes public comment, enrollment and facilities reports, hiring decisions and an executive session to review public employee performance.

It contains no item specifically addressing the Larson statement or reporting on the investigation speakers have urged the district to complete.

At the October 13 meeting Shannon Gaydeski again asked the board to rescind its statement, complete its investigation and dismiss Brian Weekes, the coach whose alleged conduct was central to Larson’s lawsuit. 

Rod Larson called for a review of policies, training and supervision, while Wendy Larson said Kari Larson’s Title IX complaint remained unresolved nearly three years after it was filed.

Board Chair Bill Rohde thanked the speakers and moved to a transportation presentation. Directors took no retraction vote. After an executive session later that evening, the board returned and announced that there was no action to take.

Traci Hurn, a district employee and board member Ron Hurn’s wife, defended directors’ character and cited their volunteer work and community service.

The dispute over the board’s statement

Rohde read the statement August 25 with the board’s approval. It emphasized findings in the defendants’ favor and used the words “completely exonerated” about the district.

In April, a federal jury found QVSD liable for a hostile work environment under the Washington Law Against Discrimination. Jurors awarded Larson $250,000, reduced by $240 for failure to mitigate damages, leaving $249,760.

They rejected Larson’s retaliation claims against QVSD and Weekes, as well as her negligent-supervision and negligent-retention claims against Kyle Weakley.

Larson, a former assistant cross-country coach, alleged unwanted physical contact, offensive messages and sexually suggestive comments by Weekes. He denied the allegations.

A satisfaction of judgment filed July 2 acknowledged payment of $765,834.77, including judgments, interest, court costs and attorney fees, as the Herald previously reported.

The board’s August statement also said the district did not intend to minimize the situation and disclosed an ongoing personnel matter related to it, without identifying the subject. 

Residents sought a retraction at the September 8 and September 22 meetings before renewing that demand October 13.

Enrollment, facilities and hiring

Tuesday’s agenda calls for Superintendent Diana Reaume to report on October enrollment and the transitional kindergarten program. Bill Henderson is scheduled to present a maintenance and facilities update and a report on the Spartan Ball Fields Project. Myron Hammond is listed to give the Insight School of Washington report.

The enrollment report follows Reaume’s September report that enrollment was below budget projections. She pointed to Running Start participation, saying about 34 students attended that program full time and linking it to a high-school enrollment shortfall equivalent to about 20 full-time students.

The consent agenda includes proposed hiring of Brenda Jacobson as Forks Elementary School office secretary effective November 2 and Rachelle Rogers-Spann as Forks High School assistant wrestling coach effective November 16.

Directors are also scheduled to consider agreements involving Running Start, alternative routes to teacher certification, career and technical education dual credit, professional development and SK Cascade Model sublicensing.