Report on Assault at RB

Hello

I know many of you are dying to comment on this. I have to say that I don't know anything more than what I have read in the paper. I don't know if there is going to be a meeting about it and even if there is, I'm sure privacy laws are not going to allow much detail to be shared. If I find out anything I will be sure to post.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380680_rainierbeach26.html

Comments

anonymous said…
Why is this happening in our schools? Why are families standing for it? What is being done to change it?

My son attends a Shoreline MS, and I can tell you that they take the safety of their students very seriously. In the two years that we have been there, there have been three serious incidents, and all were handled with the utmost urgency.

On one occasion a student was walking home from school and was robbed by two males. He was not hurt, but his school issued laptop was stolen. An email and paper letter was sent home to every family alerting them of the incident and the police were called immediately.

On the second occasion there were several sightings of a level 3 sex offender hanging out in the woods around the school. The police were notified and an email was sent home to all parents alerting them of the situation and reminding them of safe routes to walk and to caution their children to never walk alone. In addition the police sent a picture of the offender to every school family with his history.

On the third occasion a girl was the victim of an armed robbery in the woods behind the school. She was not hurt, but the suspects took her wallet. The police were called, the suspects caught, and every family was notified of the incident immediately via email.

I have felt like these very serious incidents were handled well, and appreciated the information being swiftly shared with the entire community. It was immensely helpful, and very comforting to know that when something happens I will be informed about it and can take appropriate action at home.

Two kids and 8 years in SPS, I can tell you that I have never once been informed by the school of an incident that happened either at school or after school involving a student. Never. Why not?
9/26/08, 9:44 AM
WenD said…
Would it be wise to simply tell our kids to call 911 first and insist on police help? At a minimum, I think the police have to open a report, which is more than we've seen from schools.
9/26/08, 11:03 AM
WenD said…
And as a follow up for the developmentally disabled student who was assaulted, is anyone going to file suit on her behalf? Historically, nothing gets the undiluted attention of SPS like a lawsuit. Just so everyone is on the same page in the future. You don't even need an expensive in-service or endless trainings. One email ought to do it. Student complains of assault? Call the police. Stay with the student.
9/26/08, 11:09 AM
Charlie Mas said…
Here is a working link to the story in the P-I.

The P-I story describes the communication breakdown and the steps that the District has taken to prevent such breakdowns in future.

The problem - which does not appear to have been solved - is that school staff either do not know that they are legally obligated to report suspicion of abuse to the police or CPS, or they do not act on that obligation.

It appears that school staff still erroneously believe that they are only expected to make a report to school administrators. Calls to the district's security department may be up 35%, but where is the increase in calls to the police or CPS?
9/26/08, 7:50 PM
Jet City mom said…
Federal mandated reporting laws have been in place since 1974.
Any school employee who does not yet know ( and follow) the responsibility entailed IMO is not aware or engaged enough to be paid by taxpayer dollars and trusted with the taxpayers children.

This is not a negotiable item.
9/27/08, 11:49 AM
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