Report Reveals That Evergreen School District Failed to Comply with Federal Laws Designed to Protect Students

A recent article and corresponding television news story produced by the the NBC Bay Area News Investigative Unit analyzes the systematic failures of the Evergreen School District to comply with Title IX.  Title IX is a federal law that requires schools to establish a framework for the handling and reporting of claims of sexual abuse.  The revealing article sheds light on Evergreen School Districts lack of compliance with Title IX. 

Title IX requires that each school appoint a designated trained coordinator to handle complaints of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.  The Evergreen School District has since identified Human Resources Director Carole Schmitt as its designated Title IX Coordinator.  However, Ms. Schmitt's contact information and designation as Title IX Coordinator are not available publicly online as mandated by Title IX. Furthermore, Ms. Schmitt testified at the trial of O.B. Whaley Principal Lyn Vijayendran that she had not received any sexual harassment or abuse training. 

Attorney Paul Matiasic of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP, who is representing the family of one of the young victims, told NBC Bay Area Investigators that “Title IX is in place to prevent these types of occurrences.”  Sadly, the lack of compliance with mandated sexual abuse reporting guidelines contributed to a dangerous environment for the children.  According to Matiasic, “I do firmly believe more kids were abused [at OB Whaley] by virtue of the fact that they failed to comply with Title IX.” 

A link to the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit Story appears below:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Bay-Area-School-Where-Teacher-Charged-with-Sexual-Abuse-Ignoring-Law-That-Protects-Students-185563462.html

NBC Bay Area News Investigates Evergreen School DIstrict Abuse Scandal

Consternation regarding the Evergreen School District sexual abuse scandal continues as shocked community members and parents search for answers.  The NBC Bay Area News Investigative Team will examine what the Evergreen School District failed to do to protect the innocent victims of this tragedy.  The report will air on December 18, 2012 at 11:00 p.m.