DES MOINES, Wash. — A former Mount Rainier High School student has filed a lawsuit that claims Highline Public Schools failed to “properly vet” and “supervise” an assistant volleyball coach she said groomed and sexually abused her more than a decade ago when she was 16 years old.
The assistant volleyball coached named in her lawsuit was arrested and later pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, according to court documents, that say prosecutors charged the school’s former head volleyball coach with failing to report the abuse.
The former student is breaking her silence after KIRO 7 recently reported on the unrelated arrest of a Mount Rainier High School teacher and track coach who’s accused of inappropriately touching and making sexual comments to student athletes.
"How does it keep happening?” said the woman, who we’re not publicly identifying because of the nature of the claims. “That's a huge issue."
Court records show Highline Public Schools argued the woman’s suit, filed last year, should be dismissed after claiming the statute of limitations expired. A judge ruled last month the case could move forward.
“The pain that it’s caused so far; I feel like I’ve somewhat become disconnected from myself,” said the former student. “It’s hard to tell who I am versus what the trauma is anymore.”
“This case isn’t just about justice for our client, it’s also about exposing Highline Public School's history of failing to protect its students,” said the former student’s attorneys, Lance King and JR Oviedo, in a statement to KIRO 7. “It’s our goal that our client’s courage in coming forward with her story will bring about the necessary changes at Highline so no other student will have to suffer similar sexual abuse.”
The attorneys said their claims are backed by previous arrests in the district that include a sex offender who was discovered in 2010 to be working as a volunteer at Evergreen High School and a substitute stadium manager who was sentenced to prison in 2011 for fondling male athletes.
“Just based on my own experience, it seems like the district isn't doing enough to make sure that this type of behavior stops,” said the former student. “I think it's something systemic.”
In a statement to KIRO 7, Highline Public Schools spokesperson Catherine Carbone Rogers said:
“The attorney is attempting to show a pattern by trying to connect unrelated incidents that occurred a decade ago. The safety and protection of our students is, and always has been, the highest priority for Highline Public Schools. Any time we get a report of inappropriate conduct by a staff member, we take immediate action to remove the staff member from school, conduct an investigation, and involve law enforcement, when appropriate.”
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