Parent tells Washington ESD board her son faced racial threats, alleged bathroom assault and lack of school communication

Divina Lugo, a parent of a Mountain Sky Middle School student, told the Washington Elementary School District Governing Board on March 27 that her son has been the target of repeated incidents at school that left him feeling unsafe and unsupported. Lugo said a male classmate told her son “you’re going to die first because you’re black” during a cross-country practice in September, and that school officials never notified her about that incident.

She said mediation requested after the threat was repeatedly promised but never arranged. Lugo also described an incident in which her son was denied repeated requests to use the restroom, then urinated in class, was given gym shorts but remained in soiled underwear and spent about three hours isolated in a classroom before riding the bus home. She said she was not notified by school staff about that episode.

Most recently, Lugo said her son was assaulted in a bathroom urinal when another male student “pounced him completely, exposing his private parts to 2 other children within the bathroom.” She said she was notified immediately of that incident. Lugo called for an immediate review of school policies, improved staff training, improved communication systems, accountability measures, social-emotional learning classes and support for affected students.

Board President Kyle Clayton responded at the dais by asking Dr. Bailey to reach out to the family. No board motion or formal action on the allegations was recorded in the meeting minutes; the transcript records a staff follow-up request only.

The statements were made during the meeting’s open-call public comment period. The board did not discuss or vote on any new districtwide policy at the March 27 meeting related to these allegations, though the superintendent and board members verbally requested staff follow-up.