UPDATE: Curtis Johnston Third Party Investigation Closed

Dear Mercer Island Community, 

We know our community has ongoing questions and concerns regarding the District’s review of sexual misconduct allegations involving a former staff member, Curtis Johnston, and a former student who graduated from Mercer Island High School in 2011. We understand how unsettling this news has been. Our community and District share the same commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students.

The District learned of the allegations about Mr. Johnston’s conduct at the same time as the community, through the InvestigateWest article. We took the allegations seriously and acted promptly by referring the matter to local law enforcement and Child Protective Services (CPS) and utilized a third-party investigator to conduct an independent investigation.

The investigator made reasonable efforts to gather information from both the former student who raised the allegations and Mr. Johnston. Due to the unavailability of those involved, the investigator was unable to make any findings regarding the allegations set forth in the InvestigateWest article, and the investigation has been closed. 

The District understands that many hoped this process would result in clear findings; however, due to the unavailability of those core to this matter, there was not evidence to support any reliable conclusion. Closing the investigation does not mean that the concerns were or will be ignored or dismissed. It simply means that on the record available, no factual determinations could be made. If additional information becomes available in the future, the District will review it and may reopen the matter. 

Whereas this alleged conduct between Mr. Johnston and a former student dates back to 2010-2011 and Mr. Twombley’s misconduct occurred in 2015-2016, the District will not allow the distance of time to be an excuse for inaction. We believe we have evolved and have better systems and practices in place today, but we want to do more. 

In December, the District and Praesidium formalized a partnership to aid in the District's ongoing work to strengthen its practices in this area. Praesidium brings over 30 years of experience working with organizations and schools to prevent sexual abuse of children. They will be visiting our District later this spring to hold interviews, walk our campuses, and provide resources. Their work will culminate in a report, detailing areas of strength and places we need to improve, to better protect students. Along with the support of our Student Safety and Well-Being Committee, we will develop an implementation plan for change.

The District’s commitment to student safety is unwavering. We take seriously the responsibility entrusted to us by families and the confidence parents place in our schools. When concerns involving child abuse, neglect, or exploitation are raised, they are reported to CPS and or law enforcement so they can be appropriately reviewed and addressed. While the details communicated to CPS and law enforcement cannot always be shared globally, our focus remains on acting with care, responsibility, and a clear commitment to doing what is right for students.

Sincerely,

Fred Rundle

Superintendent