<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4VzI0A_1GosrkKt00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4VzI0A_1GosrkKt00" width="684" height="874" ><figcaption>©HAWKEYE image credit: Serah Boniog</figcaption></figure>In response to news surfacing around the alleged mishandling of a sexual misconduct case at Meadowdale Elementary, six individuals spoke up during Public Comments at the Edmonds School District board meeting on August 18, 2026. They requested that Superintendent Rebecca Miner “step down” from her position, and that the District assume responsibility for its inaction. According to parent Kelly Haller who read from a petition at the meeting, the misconduct in question took place over the years 2022 to 2024. Throughout 2022, several allegations were made against a male learning support teacher of alleged sexual misconduct toward both special education students and fellow staff members. Allegedly, action was not immediately taken. In December of 2023, the District began an investigation, but no students were interviewed during this time. The result was verbal admonishment and a letter to the teacher detailing the boundaries he should keep with students and co-workers. This was placed in his working disciplinary file. Yet, “despite very specific directives, the behavior continued and escalated,” cited Haller. Another eight months would pass before the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave for the 2024 to 2025 school year, nearly two years after the concerns began. During this time, a report was filed with law enforcement on his behavior by a staff member, and an extensive investigation was enacted. According to Edmonds News, InvestigativeWest and The Herald reports that Lynnwood police initially filed two fourth-degree assault charges (in other words, a threat or indication of malicious intention) against the teacher, David Sibley. The Lynnwood municipal prosecutor reviewed these, and requested additional investigation. Edmonds News reported that upon receiving a fifth-grade female victim’s report in 2025, Lynnwood police brought the allegation to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, which in August declined to file a first-degree child rape charge against Sibley. They cited a lack of “sufficient admissible evidence to prove that a crime was committed beyond a reasonable doubt,” and Sibley had denied all allegations.Parent Elizabeth Wareing, also reading from the petition, described that Sibley left quietly without any form of documented disciplinary action and with a severance package. “Additionally,” she said, “the District administration did not notify parents of the children affected, even though it is required by Washington State Law – Revised Code of Washington [RCW] 28A.320.160 and RCW 28A.400.317.”Allegedly, there is no record of Dr. Miner forwarding any allegation information to law enforcement or CPS as is also required. Wareing concluded by requesting the District report on Sibley to be made public.The third reader of the petition, parent Chelsea Rudd, deemed the District “untrustworthy,” and cited the following demands. First, that Dr. Miner be placed on leave and for the District to hire an interim school superintendent who “has a track record of successfully implementing changes, including the culture of an organization.” Second, that all investigations surrounding child abuse within District schools must be done through a third-party to ensure impartiality. Third, that the report on this matter is publicly released, and that a follow-up is sent every six months on ongoing progress regarding these concerns. Rudd added that the petition is ongoing, and currently has a little over 300 signatures. That number is at 457 at the writing of this article on August 27.Two staff members shared their concerns at the meeting as well. Wendy Masterson, who recently retired after 25 years of working with the District, expressed concerns from a staff perspective. Masterson stated, “We watched with mounting dread as this toxic environment has taken its toll on our students and staff. We saw the grooming, we saw the sexual misconduct, and we saw the harassment.” Masterson claimed that she and her co-workers reported the misdemeanors they witnessed, and were told by administration, “Don’t make it out to be more than it is.”Similarly, Jenny Berry, who worked in the District as a music teacher alongside other roles, directly addressed Dr. Nancy Katims as she shared worries from a community member, specifically regarding Meadowdale Elementary Principal Dan Davis. “He had many chances to report, and he failed every single time,” Berry claimed. In light of the District offering Principal Davis a new contract through this year, Berry cited his past inaction as illegal by Washington State law, and was “horrified to learn that despite his multiple failures, the District, specifically Dr. Miner, authorized a new contract for him.”Berry additionally expressed her disappointment in the school district for its handling of the situation. The student who was allegedly raped was a fifth-grader who reported the abuse in 2025, although the misconduct occurred back in winter of 2023. Cases like these are common, Berry said, where the true extent of damage goes unseen for years. “Had [Principal Davis] done his job and reported from the very beginning, or any other time, that would have set in motion a series of events that maybe would have prevented this child from being raped, not to mention the other victims – special ed victims – continually molested,” Berry stated.The Edmonds School District Board of Directors, as well as Superintendent Dr. Miner, did not give a response to anything mentioned, and their silence did not signal agreement, disagreement or endorsement of the speakers’ remarks, as their policy describes.Editor’s Note: If further action is taken regarding this case, we will provide updates as appropriate.</div></body>

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In response to news surfacing around the alleged mishandling of a sexual misconduct case at Meadowdale Elementary, six individuals spoke up during Public Comments at the Edmonds School District board meeting on August 18, 2026. They requested that Superintendent Rebecca Miner “step down” from her position, and that the District assume responsibility for its inaction. According to parent Kelly Haller who read from a petition at the meeting, the misconduct in question took place over the years 2022 to 2024. Throughout 2022, several allegations were made against a male learning support teacher of alleged sexual misconduct toward both special education students and fellow staff members. Allegedly, action was not immediately taken. In December of 2023, the District began an investigation, but no students were interviewed during this time. The result was verbal admonishment and a letter to the teacher detailing the boundaries he should keep with students and co-workers. This was placed in his working disciplinary file. Yet, “despite very specific directives, the behavior continued and escalated,” cited Haller. Another eight months would pass before the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave for the 2024 to 2025 school year, nearly two years after the concerns began. During this time, a report was filed with law enforcement on his behavior by a staff member, and an extensive investigation was enacted. According to Edmonds News, InvestigativeWest and The Herald reports that Lynnwood police initially filed two fourth-degree assault charges (in other words, a threat or indication of malicious intention) against the teacher, David Sibley. The Lynnwood municipal prosecutor reviewed these, and requested additional investigation. Edmonds News reported that upon receiving a fifth-grade female victim’s report in 2025, Lynnwood police brought the allegation to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, which in August declined to file a first-degree child rape charge against Sibley. They cited a lack of “sufficient admissible evidence to prove that a crime was committed beyond a reasonable doubt,” and Sibley had denied all allegations.

Superintendent’s alleged mismanagement causes parent concern

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In response to news surfacing around the alleged mishandling of a sexual misconduct case at Meadowdale Elementary, six individuals spoke up during Public C