A student who recently graduated from Steilacoom High School has filed a lawsuit against the school district, claiming her math teacher sexually harassed her and the district failed to report the incident to law enforcement as required by law. Read more at The News Tribune.
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If Garrett place his hands under her skirt he should have been fired . Nothing more to say , except if the school district believes this was non sexual, the investigators of the district also need to be fired.
Steilacoom, like any small town, has its secrets. But his predatory behavior with female employees and students was not one. When I read the headline I instantly thought, Eric Garrett. Why, because these types of accussations have been associated with him for decades. He is entitled to his day in court. At a minimum, he should be suspended until the criminal investigation is complete.
This behavior goes back to at least his early days at the high school. It is not a secret. If this last episode was really not turned over to an outside law enforcement agency, heads should roll for those who participated in that decision.
He moved to SHS from Pioneer MS in the 2005/6?
Steilacoom School District under the leadership of Kathi Weight and the Human Resources run by Susanne Beauchaine has been a series of poor judgement calls and flat out cover ups. Anyone remember the incident they tried to keep quiet at SHS about the student attacking another student with a hammer to the head? Or the lack of increased security for students on SHS campus, located right across the street from Western State Hospital, during patient incidents and escapes?
Every time there is any kind of incident at the school, or related to the school, it is handled in such a closed circle, cult like way. Parents are the last to know until issues leak out. Then the district goes in to “opps” mode and really it always comes across as too little too late.
The students should be questioning their administrative staff way more and also be a lot less scared to voice their concern.
The math teacher in question has a history of having the district just look the other way. There was the time he had an extramarital relationship with another adult working at SHS and there was an exchange of sexually charged emails during the school day, and using school computers. He continued to stay on at SHS. Then there were his repeated acts of thumbing his nose at the state department of education about the need to submit his documents et al. to renew his teaching certification (something he should have known to do as a professional educator)!
That lack of active teaching credentials should and his attitude regarding the matter should have gotten him fired years ago – really makes you wonder what is going on between this math teacher and the district.
As to this latest charge, I’m not at all surprised by the districts actions as they are not concerned about their students nearly as much as they are all about covering their own behinds!
Parents in the district should all be overly tired of this nonsense and seek better, truly transparent leadership regardless of the ongoing case. It’s really too many nails in Kathi Weight’s and her leadership team’s coffins at this point.
SHS and Steilacoom High School sent this to families this afternoon- seems a bit threatening towards students more than there to help.
Dear SHS Families,
A lawsuit was recently filed against the Steilacoom School District in Pierce County Superior Court by a former SHS student and we wanted to provide you with as much information as we can as well as an update.
The lawsuit alleges that the student was subjected to sexually harassing and sexually inappropriate conduct while she was a student at Steilacoom High School during the 2018-19 school year. Law enforcement was notified of the allegations in the lawsuit. The District recognizes that the allegations in the lawsuit regard sensitive subjects and we are taking them very seriously. In the meantime, the teacher in question is not at the school and is out on administrative leave. Because this is an open case, we are unable to offer any further comment or details on the lawsuit or the specific allegations contained in the lawsuit at this time.
However, nothing is more important to us than providing a safe learning environment and the District remains committed to a safe and positive educational experience for all of its students. We encourage the use of the District’s safe school reporting tool: https://steilacoom-wa.safeschoolsalert.com, which provides a safe and confidential way to report any kind of inappropriate or other behavior.
In addition, the District has been alerted to a student-led walkout scheduled for tomorrow, November 10 during school. This walkout is being organized by a student group that is not affiliated with the District.
We respect our students’ rights to freedom of speech and want to ensure all students, both those who choose to participate and those who do not, are safe and respected.
We appreciate that the students who are planning this student-led demonstration notified SHS administration and are working to ensure student safety. We are making plans to ensure students who choose to participate can do so on campus to minimize potential hazards or disruptions to the school day.
Student-led demonstrations are not sanctioned by the school or school district, and SHS will continue to operate on our schedule. As is standard with our district attendance policy, students who choose to participate will be marked tardy or absent, depending on how quickly they return to class.
We appreciate your continued support in keeping our schools safe and supportive places for students to learn and grow. Please always know that we have an open door for discussion and concerns and will always respond to anything a student or family feels is suspicious or needs to be addressed. Again, students should always call our Safe Schools Alert hotline – 855-745-3674 – where they can leave an urgent message that is anonymous, or they can report anything immediately to a teacher or any member of the faculty or staff.
Please reach out to either of us with additional questions or concerns. We will continue to keep you informed.
Susanne Beauchaine, Executive Director, HR and Principal Michael Miller
SHS needs to be held accountable for their actions. I can’t believe something like this can happen. They’ve done a great job of keeping things hidden up until now, but it’s due time they’re put on display.
From the district’s policies – hum – maybe Steilacoom School District should follow their own rules:
Sexual Harassment (staff and students)
It is the policy of the Steilacoom Historical School District that there be no discrimination against any student on the basis of sex. In keeping with that policy, the district will not tolerate sexual harassment of or by any of its employees, students, volunteers or parents. Sexual harassment is a violation of the district’s rules of conduct for the work place and/or educational setting.
At a minimum sexual harassment recognition and prevention and the elements of this policy will be included in staff, student and regular volunteer orientation. This policy shall be posted in each district building in a place available to staff, students, parents, volunteers and visitors. The policy shall be reproduced in each student, staff, volunteer and parent handbook.
This is disturbing on so many levels. This man is clearly a sociopathic predator. This type of behavior is hard-wired into their behavior patterns, they can’t be cured or even treated. They are always on the hunt for their next victim. The vulnerable, the weak, broken families, poverty, low self-esteem, etc etc. I would bet the family farm that this incident is far from being the only time he has sexually assaulted someone and I hope the police encourage other victims to come forward. Perhaps more disturbing is other adults in positions of responsibility knew that he is a predator and egregiously allowed him to remain unguarded and with access to vulnerable children. The residents of Steilacoom need a full accountability for this with the assurance there are no others of his ilk “teaching” our children. Clearly, there was a massive cover-up and we need to know who was responsible from the top down. Maybe he can teach math, in prison, but should never be allowed to be in any setting with young girls.
This is not new news. As a 2011 SHS graduate, I too, experienced a similar interaction with Eric Garrett. In fact, during my high school years at SHS, Eric Garrett was in trouble for sending inappropriate emails to a prior female student from his school email. As I recall, Eric Garrett was not allowed to teach alone the rest of the school year. That was 10 years ago, he got away with it then, who knows what else he’s been getting away with since. It’s disgusting. Get it together, SHS. I’m proud of these students for doing a walk out. Hopefully, this time it will gain enough traction that something will be done.
Students held the walkout. And I still don’t think the district powers that be get the seriousness of this situation they caused. Also, SHS counselors are awful and rarely meet with or keep or follow up with SHS students on any matters. I think defaulting to “students can see their counselor” is a cop out and truly sad.
Here is what the district put out this afternoon –
Dear SHS Families,
As you know, SHS students held a peaceful walk-out at school today to make sure their voices were heard about safety issues. On those issues – we hear them and above all else we want our schools to be a place where every student feels safe.
Our counselors were available to meet with students during lunch to offer a safe space for students to express their feelings and talk with someone.
We also wanted to remind our families of the ways to get help:
1. Reach out to a counselor or request to meet with one of our administrators.
2. Provide an online report anonymously to our Safe Schools system at https://steilacoom-wa.safeschoolsalert.com/.
We are proud of our students and their courage today and have plans to meet with students on Friday to debrief about today’s walk-out. We will discuss future ways we can work together to ensure every student feels safe and that their voices are heard at SHS.
SHS Admin
SHSD and SHS have lost the trust of the kids and parents. They want students to use their anonymous phone line but all of that information will be used to defend Garrett and will never be made public. If anyone wants to tell of their experience with Garrett they should call the victims attorney Tom Balerud directly at 253-573-1111. The more people who come forward with what they know, especially if they are willing to give a statement under oath, the better the chance that he’ll be fired. SHSD hired a high priced attorney using our tax dollars to defend Garrett and the district. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.”
This is just another example of the problems that exist in the Steilacoom School District. Our Granddaughter is now safely out of that building attending Running Start but I remember the time regarding the young man attacking the student with a hammer. Our granddaughter was safely outside the building with a class of students when this was taking place and the school had been supposedly “locked down.” Then I hear that she and others were told to go back into the building during the lockdown. Fortunately no one was harmed with the only one being locked out apparently was the administrator. This lack of responsibility and training regarding safety is to say the least unbelievable. If the “debriefing” is anything like the last “debriefing” it will be just another opportunity for the students to listen to more empty promises and excuses for their lack of professional behavior. I can’t believe that this has been going on for so long.
Has the District Attorney filed criminal charges on this sexual assault of a minor ?
Eric Garrett was brought to SHS from PMS because Jan McCrimmon, who was the Principal at the time, was a close friend. Eric snd his wife were close friends with Jan and her husband. This a deal between friends. She protected him as long as she was there. In 2008/2009, he used the school’s computer to send inappropriate emails to a former staff member, and he would leave during lunch to have an affair. He received a slap on the hand. So, this is not anything new. His arrogance prevents him from seeing his fault in anything. This is a cover up from the district plane and simple.