At the Issaquah School Board meeting on Oct. 9, parents and PTA leaders pressed the district to launch an independent investigation into allegations of harassment, retaliation and negligent supervision connected to a lawsuit involving an employee at Endeavour Elementary.

Speakers said the district’s initial communications and the fact that a staff member named in the suit has continued to serve as liaison to families created a conflict of interest and weakened trust. ‘‘Our staff deserve to feel safe, heard, and supported so they can focus on what matters most, our students,’’ said Shannon Mayo, speaking for the Endeavour PTSA.

Why it matters: Commenters said the district’s handling of the complaints affects staff and student safety, community trust and the district’s duty under its own policies to investigate harassment and hostile work-environment claims.

Details and requests

Several speakers cited a district email to families that said no credible evidence warranted an investigation and contrasted that with public records they say show district awareness of similar complaints years earlier. Speaker Tyler Jones said parents were told the district found ‘‘no credible evidence,’’ while public records included an internal staff email that he said summarized anonymous complaints that mirror the lawsuit’s allegations. Jones asked the board for three steps: a third-party investigation, an appointed manager to handle the district response who is not named in the lawsuit, and clear information about what support is available to Endeavour staff.

Lisa Hudson, a parent, told the board that an internal email dated two years earlier ‘‘summarized anonymous staff complaints that mirror nearly every concern parents are raising today’’ and called for an independent review so staff could speak without fear of retaliation. Bridget Chapett and other parents asked the board to explain what ‘‘monitoring’’ of the situation has meant in practice and to publish what specific protections are in place for students and staff while legal proceedings continue.

What the board did

The comments were made during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal board motion or vote to commission an investigation or to reassign the district liaison was recorded at the meeting. The board heard the requests and proceeded to its regular agenda, including consent items and later business.

Context and limits of reporting

Speakers repeatedly said a specific employee, identified in public comment as an administrator and named in the lawsuit, continued to serve as the district’s point of contact for families. The board did not take action that evening to open an independent inquiry; any such action would require a formal motion and public vote in a later meeting. This report does not assert facts about the lawsuit itself beyond what speakers stated in the meeting.

Next steps

Speakers asked the board to respond with concrete steps: who will manage any investigation, what independent investigator will be engaged, and what specific monitoring measures are in place for Endeavour staff and students. The board did not announce those measures at the Oct. 9 meeting.