Judge: District showed 'deliberate indifference' to racial harassment
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MERCER ISLAND, Wash. -- The state Office of Administrative Hearings has ruled against the Mercer Island School District in its handling of a racial harassment complaint.
The incident occurred at Island Middle School last year when racially-charged remarks were made to a seventh grader.
"(My son) said he was told to 'shut up, you stupid black...,"' said mother Robin Wilt. "This child had used the word 'brownie' to describe my son, and so there were racial slurs involved."
But it wasn't so much the words that angered parents Robin and Nick Wilt, but rather the way the district handled the situation.
"It's more the district's unwillingness to take the allegations seriously," said Nick.
"At no point did they acknowledge that a discriminatory harassment had occurred, that there was malfeasance on their part," said Nick.
The aggressor student was allowed to stay in the class. And complicating matters is the fact that the Wilts' son suffers from Asperger's syndrome.
After a year-long process, the Office of Administrative Hearings ruled that the Mercer Island School District had violated the state's non-discrimination statutes. The OAH pointed out "deliberate indifference" by the district, and said their response to the incidents were "inadequate."
Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano did not want to comment, but did issue a written statement.
"The district respectfully disagrees with the administrative law judge's determination," the statement said. "The teachers and administrators took immediate action to address the situation. The district is reviewing whether to appeal the decision."
"We were hoping that at some point they would say, 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We want to resolve this. What wold make you happy?"' said Robin.
The Wilts said the district fought them every step of the way in the past year, which they described as one of frustration and anger. As a result, they decided to file a lawsuit.
"We do intend to seek monetary damages in Superior Court," said Robin.
The administrative law judge in the case is asking the district to provide more non-discrimination training for principals and vice-principals.
As a result of the Wilts' case, the district has already changed and updated its policy on non-discrimination.
The incident occurred at Island Middle School last year when racially-charged remarks were made to a seventh grader.
"(My son) said he was told to 'shut up, you stupid black...,"' said mother Robin Wilt. "This child had used the word 'brownie' to describe my son, and so there were racial slurs involved."
But it wasn't so much the words that angered parents Robin and Nick Wilt, but rather the way the district handled the situation.
"It's more the district's unwillingness to take the allegations seriously," said Nick.
"At no point did they acknowledge that a discriminatory harassment had occurred, that there was malfeasance on their part," said Nick.
The aggressor student was allowed to stay in the class. And complicating matters is the fact that the Wilts' son suffers from Asperger's syndrome.
After a year-long process, the Office of Administrative Hearings ruled that the Mercer Island School District had violated the state's non-discrimination statutes. The OAH pointed out "deliberate indifference" by the district, and said their response to the incidents were "inadequate."
Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano did not want to comment, but did issue a written statement.
"The district respectfully disagrees with the administrative law judge's determination," the statement said. "The teachers and administrators took immediate action to address the situation. The district is reviewing whether to appeal the decision."
"We were hoping that at some point they would say, 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We want to resolve this. What wold make you happy?"' said Robin.
The Wilts said the district fought them every step of the way in the past year, which they described as one of frustration and anger. As a result, they decided to file a lawsuit.
"We do intend to seek monetary damages in Superior Court," said Robin.
The administrative law judge in the case is asking the district to provide more non-discrimination training for principals and vice-principals.
As a result of the Wilts' case, the district has already changed and updated its policy on non-discrimination.
Sad that people will defend racism so vigorously, especially racist bullying of a freaking disabled kid.
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Some people are DISGUSTING.
Who's pockets do they expect this lawsuit money to come from ?
 @joefuss Considering they are rich enough live on Mercer Island in a mansion, I think the point was to get the school to STOP THIS RACIST BULLYING rather than get a few bucks from the district.
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Sad that so many people will defend bullying. Racist bullying of a disabled kid no less. I say sue this school for every penny their worth, so the next disabled kid of color that gets bullied wont have to put up with it for long.
Its not 'PC' rhetoric toÂ
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1. NOT bully a child...particularly a disabled one (the child in this case has asbergers)
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2. Not make racial attacks and;
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3. Show decency and respect.
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 Since when is being racist while bullying  a form of 'rejecting PC rhetoric'?
"We were hoping that at some point they would say, 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We want to resolve this. What wold make you happy?"' said Robin." Wellllll......ENGLISH lessons "wold" make me real happy, ANDÂ a nice big state paid settlement based on race would make it even sweeter. Ugh. We're swimming in a sea of P.C. rhetoric.
 @Wolfen So, I guess in your world its OK to bully disabled kids with racism, so long as theyre black?
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The 'settlement' assertion you made was funny, considering the kids family is wealthy enough to live in what looked like a mansion on Mercer Island. But yes, all blacks generally want handouts and use the race card, even bullied, disabled, half black kids from a wealthy family wrongfully assumed to be mexican. /sarcasm
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:Why do I keep expecting prejudiced people to have an iota of observational sense and decency?:
More Victims!
Hey, This is America.
 @T-Prop How could anyone defend bullying a disabled kid? Because hes (half) black, its ok to bully him with racism?
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No wonder our schools have bullying problems if this is the mentality of parents these days.
Some of the rap music the blacks are saying bad stuff about themselves like what's in the allegations. Â When a black picks up on this, it is o.k. but not someone else of a different race. Â First of all, a lot of the rap music is satanic but on the other hand, Â culture and society can be confusing in a sinful world. Â Robin and Nick Wilt? Â Come on now, Â who exactly do you think you are fooling?
 @HullenbeckCowl So because some rap artist that you cannot specify says something, its ok to be racist to black (this kid was half black...also he was insulted as if he were Mexican, wrongfully...because racists arent too smart)?
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Wow, thats brilliant reasoning.
All you have to do is listen to some forms of rap music or turn on a TV and you will hear this sort of disrespect with a lot more flare then what was said above. Blaming parents where society as a whole is to blame. We allow it to be present, I am afraid we will have to learn to live with it until we are no longer a free society. Just quieting someone will not rid it. That will take generations and a lot of attitude changes on all aspects of that society.
 @Grumpa "Hey, lets just tell all the blacks and gays and interracial couples and women that they should 'just get used to abuse from bigoted children of bigoted parents'?
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Yea! I mean, the most ignorant of our society should be given a pass, right? Thats a great way to run a nation!
"We want to resolve this. What wold make you happy?"' said Robin."
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I am starting to think every article is by "Komo staff" until they go back and edit out all the errors....
You've got to be taught To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught From year to year,
It's got to be drummed In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.
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 You've got to be taught to be afraid
 Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
 You've got to be carefully taught.
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 You've got to be taught before it's too late,
 Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!
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Oscar Hammerstein
"South Pacific"
Racist parents produce racist kids in most cases. Â
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Its similar in Bellevue and its not just in the schools.. Â With all the wealth and high property values it seems the Bellevue Police department can't afford dash cams in their vehicles. Â Imagine that. Â
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I have witnessed the antics myself of just what Bellevue police are capable of and the terror they have put people through. They didn't see me watching from an upper deck. Â
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Especially when young black males dare to venture into Bellevue.Â
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 @Andrew Bush Mercer is SO much worst than Bellevue these days. Even Bellevue is getting better with diversity, Mercer is still a secluded 'were wealthy whites only but dont say it outloud' community, as it has been for the last 25 years. Similar to places like Lake Oswego Oregon, or (recently) Sandpoint/Hayden Lake Idaho.
Racial slurs being used by kids.... Gee, I wonder where these kids acquired their racial outlook? I'd bet parents are the source, and that means the wrong people are being looked at. What starts at home makes the child.