Skykomish, WA - The Skykomish School District has postponed its reopening until Monday, March 16, following the March 6 arrest of a staff member at Skykomish K-12 School. The individual was taken into custody by King County Sheriff's Office detectives and booked into King County Jail on suspicion of rape of a child, related to an alleged sexual assault involving a student. The district acknowledged a delay in providing information to parents as law enforcement activity occurred on school grounds, expressing deep concern over the accusations.
An independent, third-party investigation into the circumstances surrounding the allegations is slated to be conducted by the school district.
The arrest, carried out by detectives from the Sheriff's Office Special Assault Unit, occurred during school hours on Friday, March 6. The findings of the investigation are slated for presentation to the King County Prosecutor's Office for review. While details remain under investigation, one report indicated that detectives discovered messages and images on the alleged victim's phone, leading to the inquiry. Court documents also suggested that investigators were informed the school had previously instructed the staff member not to be left alone with the student.
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The alleged victim reportedly confided in the staff member after transferring to the school following a traumatic event at another institution.
The district initially learned of the accusations on Friday, March 6, and has since issued a statement to parents and the community regarding the serious nature of the allegations. The decision to delay the school's reopening was made to allow students, parents, and staff time to process the recent events. The Skykomish School District stated its intention to apologize for the initial lack of immediate information shared with parents during the unfolding police activity.